Spain Cruise: Melilla
In this fifth post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Melilla, Spain on her Spanish Wine Discoveries Cruise on Azamara.
After a beautiful day in Alicante, Villajoyosa, and Altea, the next stop on the cruise was Melilla. This was a very unique spot because Meilla is physically located on the African continent, but it is technically an autonomous city of Spain. So, while my feet were walking on African soil (for the very first time), I was still in Spain! Today I had some free time to explore the small port town, with a tapas tasting excursion in the afternoon. The day ended in spectacular fashion with the always-amazing White Night.
Spanish Wine Discoveries Cruise Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Cruise Day 3 in Melilla, Spain. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- Pre-Cruise Day 1 – April 7: Barcelona, Spain
- Pre-Cruise Day 2 – April 8: Barcelona, Spain
- Cruise Day 1 – April 9: Valencia, Spain
- Cruise Day 2 – April 10: Alicante, Spain
- Cruise Day 3 – April 11: Melilla, Spain
- Cruise Day 4 – April 12: Malaga, Spain
- Cruise Day 5 – April 13: Cadiz/Seville, Spain
- Cruise Day 6 – April 14: Lisbon, Portugal
Morning in Melilla
We arrived into the port of Melilla on another sunny day (spoiler alert: the weather on this entire cruise was simply perfect, with bright sunshine and blue skies every single day!). Melilla is highly secured, following an increasing influx of immigrants in the early 1990s. Today, there is a 20-foot-tall fence securing the border with Morocco. We had direct access to the port, which is within walking distance to the main town. But due to some border security initiatives we were not allowed to walk off of the ship and into town on our own. There was a circuit of shuttle buses that took us between the ship and the main town.
Exploring Melilla
I spent a leisurely morning exploring Melilla. The shuttle dropped me off at the base of Melilla la Vieja, or the Old Town. This is a large fortress that was built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The fortress is a wonderful place to wander, as it is full of interesting spots including churches and museums. But first, I walked to the newer part of town. The main areas in the newer part of town are Plaza de España and Parque Hernández.
Scroll through the slideshow below to see some images in Plaza de España and Parque Hernández.
Plaza de España is the heart of the city, centered on a large circular road. Around the exterior of the plaza are several municipal buildings as well as some shops and banks. This area was designed by a Gaudí protégé, Enrique Nieto, so there is a large modernism influence here. Nearby Parque Hernández is absolutely gorgeous. This peaceful park has mesmerizing, undulating tiles on the ground and lots of green spaces lined with towering palm trees and flowers.
Scroll through the slideshow below to see some more pictures of Plaza de España and Parque Hernández.
Melilla La Vieja
After spending some time in the newer part of the city, I returned to the fortress of Melilla la Vieja (Old Town). This area is free to enter, with a lot of different walking paths to explore. I wandered in and out, up and down, within the walls of the Old Town.
Working my way to the top of the fortress took some effort (most of the way is winding pathways, but there are a few areas of stairs to climb!). But the views from the top were definitely worth it!
A Taste of Melilla
My excursion this afternoon was called “A Taste of Melilla,” where we had two stops at local restaurants for tapas. The first was a more modern restaurant in the marina called Gastrobar La Cala. A delicious Spanish omelet (a torta of eggs and potatoes) was served with garlic mayo and bread. I enjoyed a refreshing local beer as well. we got to sit out on the patio and enjoy the weather and the views.
For the second stop we headed back to Melilla la Vieja. We stopped at La Muralla Restaurante, a beautiful location! Here I enjoyed several things: a beef sandwich with a beer, and some pastries with Arabic mint tea. The sandwich looked a bit underwhelming, but it was so delicious! The beef itself was very tender and flavorful, and there was a nice garlic aioli and grilled onions on it as well. The pastries were light and very tasty.
More Views from Melilla la Vieja
After our tasty tapas tasting, I spent some time soaking up the views from the top of the fortress. One side overlooks the town itself, while the other side provides spectacular views of the water. My ship, the Azamara Quest, looked quite lovely in the crystal blue water.
Relaxing Afternoon
I returned to the ship after the excursion and relaxed in my suite for a bit. This afternoon’s snacks included shrimp cocktail and a few small canapes, which I enjoyed out on my veranda in the gorgeous weather.
Wonderful White Night
My fantastic day in Melilla wrapped up with the always amazing White Night on the ship. For this event, everyone dresses in white (including the ship, as she dons festive white bunting and flags!). The evening starts with a massive buffet…I cannot stress enough just how massive (and absolutely delicious) it is! It is chock full of every food imaginable. Tables are set up on the lower and upper decks so we can enjoy the delicious meal in the beautiful atmosphere.
Click through the slideshow below for some pictures of the event:
After dinner, the evening’s events continue with a wonderful crew parade. Here, the full crew participate in a parade around the upper and lower decks while all of the passengers wave white napkins, clap, and cheer very loudly to show our love and thanks for everyone.
The evening wrapped up with a high energy dance party. The entire entertainment team performs for about 90 minutes while everyone sings along and dances. Weather turned a bit chilly once the sun went down so the crowd definitely thinned out as the evening wore on, but it was a great night! The sunset that night was also stunning, as we set sail from Melilla enroute to our next stop of Malaga.
Conclusion
My day in Melilla was another wonderful one on the cruise. I enjoyed doing some exploring on my own in the beautiful port town, followed by a fun and tasty afternoon excursion. White Night is always a highlight of any Azamara cruise, and this one was no exception for me.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
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