Portland, Maine

We wanted to digress to yesterday’s tour. Something that we learned about is all the reclaimed land that comprises Boston. We learned about several a mountain taken down and used to expand the size of the city. We also learned that when there was nothing more to use how they brought in dirt and would run trains continuously every thirty minutes to bring in the dirt. The Irish were very involved in this and we learned how the Italians moved to another area and the Irish settled where they had lived.
 
As we drove through the city and to other areas it was so nice to see so many places that still exist that date back many years to the 1800’s and 1700’s.  


Waterside menu from last evening.

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​What a small world. Before dinner last evening as we walked down the stairs from Deck 11 to Deck 5 and reached the landing we looked up, and Anne Marie recognized a woman who we met when we sailed Crystal Symphony in 2004. She and her husband were part of an eleven-person dining room table we were assigned to for dinner. Anne Marie shares a bond with her as they are Sorority sisters. Anne Marie saw her one time since 2004 at a sorority function in Ohio. It was nice to catch up with her and her husband and to meet their grandchildren.

 
Last evening we returned to Waterside for another wonderful dinner for the first time in three nights. It was great to be back. There is no place like home, oops Waterside. LOL.
 
It was less busy than the last cruise although more people are on-board. This is not only because people were spread out in other dining venues, but many guests are spending more time in lounges enjoying music and drink and arriving to Waterside later. More Senior Waiters and Waiters are now on-board since there are more guests on these sailings.
 
There was a nice amount of time to catch up with the amazing waitstaff team which we always enjoy doing.
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The evening entertainment included another performance by Comedian Tom Drake followed by the White Party Event

Today's Daily Reflections Program

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Originally, we were to visit Bar Habour, Maine today but this was changed to Portland, Maine due to local regulations which prohibit the number of passengers who can visit simultaneously. We lost our slot to another cruise ship on this voyage and on the one the following week.
 
The good news is instead of anchoring which is the case in Bar Harbor we can dock in Portland and also visit this area for our first time.
 
Portland, Maine has the largest population of any city in the state of Maine. While the city population totals 70,000 people another 575,000 people live in the metropolitan area. 
 
The port of Portland is the second largest tonnage seaport in New England.
 
The area where we are docked is considered the old port area and features lots of quaint shops and restaurants. 

Major attractions include:
 
Maine Jewish Museum.
 
Old Port with cobblestone street and 18th street buildings.
 
Kennebunkport which years ago was known for shipbuilding and a fishing village.
 
Portland Freedom Trail Site which is two miles and passes through the city’s oldest and most historical sites.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunrise shortly before arriving to Portland. What a wonderful world.
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​The Avenue Saloon is one of the lounges found on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. The two are similar but their layouts are different with Symphony being more open and Serenity less so with the column and bar at the front as you enter. 
 
Both operate in the same manner. They open at 5:00 PM and stay open late. Late can vary based on the time in which the last guests leave. The early evening hours will feature a pianist who will play dinner music allowing those who get together for a pre-dinner drink to chat amongst themselves and/or with the bar team. Later in the evening the pianist will sing while playing the piano and it becomes livelier.
 
For many years we would go there for a pre-dinner drink and early on we might stop by after dinner.  
 
If it was just the two of us, we might sit at the bar to engage with the bar team and when we would meet with others we would sit at a table and chairs.
 
Underneath the bar there is a plaque with the letters K and A.  While this is a coincidence it does make a discussion item when we are asked if it was named for us.

On various cruises over the years, we had attended Rap with The Rabbi in the Avenue Saloon which was held on selected Sea Days. It was started by the late Rabbi Morrie and the tradition continued with certain Rabbis having their own Rap.