Laura and the Secret of the Logbook

Chapter 6: Marseille – In the Footsteps of Captain Johansen

In the early morning hours, the Magnifica docked in Marseille. Laura and Ralf went up to Deck 16 before breakfast to enjoy the view of the city. High up in the hills, they could make out the large Marseille sign, the letters standing 13.7 meters tall. From that distance, only residential areas were visible, except for the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, clearly recognizable on its hilltop.

Hand in hand, they strolled to breakfast. Choosing from the enormous buffet proved difficult. Laura opted for a bowl of muesli with fresh fruit, while Ralf helped himself to scrambled eggs, bacon, and a grain roll.

Afterwards, they headed to the Casino. Laura wanted to read the newly opened page of the logbook, while Ralf checked the security arrangements. Captain Johansen described his stay in Marseille: “Today we entered the port of Massilia, which the locals call Marseille. From afar, the masts rose like a forest of wooden poles, and the cries of the merchants carried far out to sea.”

Laura ran her fingers lightly over the display case. The yellowed pages had been weathered by salty air, yet the words carried her away to another time, to Marseille in the seventeenth century.

Chapter 7: Barcelona – Mysterious Books

In the morning, the bright sunshine woke them. They jumped out of bed, got ready, and headed to breakfast. Ralf had booked a spa day, while Laura planned to go into the city to pick up a few Spanish books. It was time to brush up on her language skills. First, they stopped by the Casino.

That day’s logbook entry was brief. In the seventeenth century, Barcelona was marked by the War of the Spanish Succession. During that time, the fortress of Montjuïc was built. Its remains can still be seen from the ship today and are open to visitors.

Back then, Barcelona had been the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom and was correspondingly bustling. Captain Johansen wrote that he was deeply impressed by the liveliness of the city. Next to the short text, there was an intricately decorated map with a city layout. Laura was fascinated and studied every detail carefully. One particular symbol caught her attention – a small, star-shaped mark.