Day 20: October 22, 2024 – Malaga, Spain
When I first started researching this around-the-world thing, one of the first things I did was scope out which countries had a Dunkin’ Donuts. (Yes, it’s true. Judge me if you must…) My DD obsession goes back 50+ years. Starting in high school, I spent years as a DD hostess, and at one time could recite all 52 varieties.
It turns out that Dunkin’ has a presence in 42 countries, about half of which we will be visiting. Spain was on that list, so at our Malaga pit stop I headed straight for the nearest Dunkin’ and started my day with a white chocolate frappe.
After my Dunkin’ treat I headed up Mount Gibralfaro to check out a castle, keeping an eye out for birdies along the way. At one point, I heard an intriguing bird call, one I didn’t recognize, and got all excited about adding a new bird to my life list. I recorded it repeatedly with my bird app, but it was unable to identify it, even though it was clear as a whistle.
Turns out, that’ s because it WAS a whistle. I rounded the corner and found a street vendor selling colorful bird whistles. Sure had me fooled! But good to know that my app can recognize fake calls, even if I can’t. I was tempted to buy one to memorialize this moment, but decided not to, and later regretted that I hadn’t.
But here’s the best part of this story. Later that day, I’m back on the ship, eating dinner in the dining room, when all of a sudden I hear the same bird call again. For a split second, I wondered if I had accidentally turned on the calls I had recorded earlier. But no, it was one of my shipmates with a bird whistle in his hand. On my way down the mountain, we had crossed paths as he was coming up the mountain, and we had a chuckle about my “whistle bird” experience. Then, he quietly went and bought it to surprise me. Thanks Ben … I love this tribe!
Next stop: Casablanca, Morocco
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