Day 5 - A Day Without Wi-Fi: Casablanca Adventures and Serendipity at Sea
Another beautiful morning greeted us as we sailed into Casablanca — sunlight glinting off the water as we arrived into the port. There was an immediate sense of arrival in a city filled with colour, culture, and history. But as we soon discovered, Casablanca had a little surprise in store for us.
Because it’s a naval port, all Wi-Fi was cut as soon as we docked — and it stayed that way for many hours, long after we had left the harbour. At first, the silence felt strange, a sudden digital stillness in our usually connected world. But as the hours passed, it began to feel… refreshing. A day without Wi-Fi turned out to be a quiet gift — unless, of course, you’re Joe!
Joe had to head into town to collect the medicines that were missing from our luggage. Since no taxis are allowed into the port and the shuttle bus had already left, two kind gentlemen kindly offered him a lift into town. It was such a lovely reminder of the goodness of strangers and the small kindnesses that make travel so memorable.
While Joe was off exploring Casablanca, I decided to hit the gym for another workout session. My legs are definitely starting to feel it — but you know the saying: no pain, no gain! Afterward, I spent a few peaceful hours on deck, something I never do. With so many passengers ashore, the ship was wonderfully quiet — just the soft sound of the sea, a light breeze, and a perfect space for stillness. I finished my book, The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga — a powerful read about freedom, acceptance, and inner strength.
The afternoon took an unexpected turn when we realised Joe’s key card, credit cards, and new medicines had gone missing. A mini ship-wide search began! After a mild panic and much retracing of steps, the mystery was solved — the key card and credit cards were safe in the cabin all along, but the medicines had vanished, likely left on the shuttle bus back to the ship. Thankfully, our wonderful Cousin Joe has saved the day — he’s been able to get replacements for us, and we’ll collect them when we arrive in Lanzarote.
The rest of the afternoon unfolded in gentle calm. Joe took a dip in the pool, relaxing after his adventurous morning, while I began a new book — Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman — a perfect follow-up to my earlier read, both thought-provoking and uplifting.
That evening, we enjoyed an early dinner with the Cruise Director, Ray — an utterly charming gentleman with a lifetime of stories from over 56 years at sea. He told us about the many illustrious guests he has hosted over the years and shared, with great fondness, that his favourite person to host was Nelson Mandela. Joining us were a lovely couple from Wales, seasoned cruisers with Regent who added even more laughter and warmth to the table, sharing with us their many travel stories as they have lived in many parts of the world.
As we returned to the room, we decided to stop and take a photo of Joe in his new outfit that the kids had bought for him and as we took a photo a couple passed by and the lady insisted to be in the photo with Joe. It turns out they live in Sydney and although they are leaving the ship at Cape Town they want to meet up when we get to Sydney.....such a small world.
By the time we returned to our suite, the Wi-Fi had finally been restored, and our devices lit up with the many messages we’d missed. It was strangely nice to reconnect — but even nicer to know we hadn’t missed much at all. Sometimes, a day unplugged is exactly what the soul needs.
Tomorrow, we dock in Agadir, and the adventure continues.
Daily Reflection:
Today I remembered that disconnection can be the doorway to deeper connection — to the world around me, to kindness, and to stillness within.
Highlight of the Day:
✨ Dinner with Ray, our Cruise Director — 56 years at sea and a heart full of stories, including the unforgettable honour of hosting Nelson Mandela.
Comments
Post a Comment