Thread: Fall Colours or Summer Whites in Jan. in Mediterranean

Greetings from the Nation's Capital,

I suspect we're enjoying/enduring the same blizzard. It's almost white-out conditions right now.

Yes, it's Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco. We're going to simply roam around in Casablanca once we've hiked to the Mosque and in Agadir we're part of a private tour to Taroundant simply because the overnight Marrakech option from NCL was too expensive. From your experience, have we made the right decision on Marrakech? I remember a couple of pieces Sondra Gotlieb wrote in the Post about her winter in Marrakech -- sure made me long to visit. We did investigate simply doing Morocco, but decided to do the 'hit and miss' touring this time.

We'll be window steerage passengers on the Jade. We have reservatons about the 12 fee paying restaurants, wondering what regular dining will be like, but we didn't want to have to bring along suits and dress outfits for this trip and so opted for NCL -- and the price was right. Have you been on an NCL ship recently? We're relatively new to cruising -- Celebrity around the Horn and last winter HAL to the South Pacific. Years ago we did NCL to Bermuda and were not too impressed but the ship has since been retired.

Are you going to escape winter this year?

Your blizzard reached us a couple of hours later (or vice versa, not sure the direction!)

Have never don NVL, but have cousins who choose either that or Princess because of the open seating, and they don't want to shlep formal wear. I have never heard them complain. There is so much food on any ship, and only so much that you can eat! If you don't like one thing, you can always find another. I don't think you have to dress up too much for the different restaurants. You'll be fine and you will have a wonderful time.

We have sailed Celebrity and others say that the food is fantastic. Believe me, it's not all it's cracked up to be! But, I don't starve! If I don't like a main course at dinner, I figure it's better for my figure!

Casablanca is an awful, dirty city. If they offer it, I would choose a trip to Rabat. That's the one place we missed out on and I am sorry. If you do walk around Casablanca, there is a pedestrian street where you can find "normal" shops, not touristy. I actually found a very nice French pant suit on sale in one of the stores.

I didn't go to Taroudant. I guess it is a good idea because you will see a bit of the countryside on the way. They will take you to places to buy stuff. If you do, bargain. Don't let them pressure you into what you really don't want.

We spent a few days in Marrakech. It is amazing. But my favourite was Fez. When you are on a cruise, you have limitations. It must be many hours to and from Marrakesh from the port.(Is it an S or a C?)

We are renting an apartment in a small white village in Spain for 3 weeks. This is a first for us. I have been following the weather every day. They keep predicting snow in the hilltowns. These predictions are a week out, so they can change!!!! On the coast, I think the high today is around 10-12. Not summer, that's for sure, but if it's dry, not bad for sight-seeing.

Today, I am hibernating, and I am making chicken soup!

I just remembered that friends of ours took their first cruise this summer, one week from Barcelona, on NCL. They are used to the best accomodations (sometimes!) and they really enjoyed it.

Neighbours wintered in Spain for decades staying in various white villages until the Euro came in and prices jumped out of their price range. They now do Florida with the option of an easy cruise from there. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time and we Canadians do know how to enjoy any weather.

I'm just back from lunch with neighbours and drove a new friend from Calgary. She's a white knuckle passenger, never having driving in near white-out conditions. The snow ploughs are out in force but they can't keep ahead of the heavy snow.

Thanks for the frubals, I guess, I've never learned how to share my stash or exactly why I'd want to hoard a stash.

I do hope you enjoy every minute of your winter stay in Spain.

How was your cruise???
What did you end up packing???

I live in Spain and like others have mentioned dark colours are the norm around here.
Spanish people seem to be obsessed with dark brown, green, burguny or black in the winter.

Lars, we're just back from a month long holiday. After the cruise we flew to Malaga and then on to an apartment hotel in Fuengirola for a two week stay. We had a few rainy days but, froze on our visits to Mijas, Ronda, Cordoba and Granada. But the the sites more than compensated for the record chilly weather.

Much to our surprise we enjoyed great weather in both Seville and Madrid -- Madrid being one of the warmest spots for the 3 days we visited.

I'd brought along winter colours BUT fall weight pants and sweaters. I would have enjoyed lined heavy weight wool pants on a couple of days and my husband left the liner in his leather jacket most days.

We're back to the land of ice and snow but did so enjoy our visit to Spain. I'm just sorting through early memories and Barcelona, Granada and Seville are at the top for their rich and well preserved history.

I am thilled you had such a lovely vacation.
I am glad to say where we live in Spain (on the Costa Blanca) we have spring already. Northern Spain is still fighting the snow.
I hope we get to read a Trip Report from your cruise and stay in Spain.
I bet you have lots of beautiful pictures (hint)

Would summer whites have worked?

Horselady,

We did see a few cruisers in summer whites and a few on the coast, but they were 'marked tourists' for sure. Even those in white runners looked out of place. We had black and brown comfortable walking shoes which seem to fit the norm better.

It was a great trip for sure, with a blend of easy travel on the ship, dabbling in ports and real travel on our own in Spain dependent upon my husband's weak Spanish.

Originally Posted by Cruise Novice

Lars, we're just back from a month long holiday. After the cruise we flew to Malaga and then on to an apartment hotel in Fuengirola for a two week stay. We had a few rainy days but, froze on our visits to Mijas, Ronda, Cordoba and Granada. But the the sites more than compensated for the record chilly weather.

Much to our surprise we enjoyed great weather in both Seville and Madrid -- Madrid being one of the warmest spots for the 3 days we visited.

I'd brought along winter colours BUT fall weight pants and sweaters. I would have enjoyed lined heavy weight wool pants on a couple of days and my husband left the liner in his leather jacket most days.

We're back to the land of ice and snow but did so enjoy our visit to Spain. I'm just sorting through early memories and Barcelona, Granada and Seville are at the top for their rich and well preserved history.

What a wonderful trip you had! We DO want to hear all about it!

I seems the weather has been doing funny things all over. Record highs and record lows! with no predictable forecasts. I always take CuddlDuds when we travel where the temps will be cooler. If you don't know what they are her is the link to their web site --> Cuddl Duds

Hope to see a report! You can post it here --> Trip Reports