Haifa

Postmarked P&O London, dated 5 June 1984.
Haifa, view from Mount Carmel.

The port of Haifa is mentioned for the first time in the year 104 BCE when an army from Cyprus arrived at the nearby port of Shikmona to fight the Jewish king.  The crusaders conquered Haifa in 1100, and Haifa became a significant city, which was even used as the principal port for Tiberias, the capital of the Galilee area.  At the time of the Mameluks, the fortunes of Haifa went into a decline and it became a small, run down village, even though naval commerce and business never stopped activities in the area.  During the 18th century, Haifa acquired the reputation as being a haven for pirates and sea brigands.   The modern city is a major sea-port, as can be seen from the card.

It was a member of the Merchant navy who sent the card.  The message reads:

We finish the winter run after an unload in Marseille, then we sail for Ashdod, Limassol, then Dover and maybe dry-dock.  The weather has been bad, blowing and raining all the time.  Not much of a summer.

Nothing much changes, it's still blowing and raining this summer!