DAY 24 DAY 18 CRYSTAL SERENITY

MALAGA, SPAIN

Today's Reflections.
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We have received several comments and e-mails about a couple of photos we posted yesterday.  One of them relates to the photos of the tiles that look three-dimensional.  In all our years of travel we have never seen anything quite like that.  A few people said they would be dizzy walking on them and a couple of times that started to happen to Anne Marie.  They are certainly unique.

We've added photos of them back on today's post and you will find those below.

The other comment was about the pastries for $1.00 Euro.  One of the things that we were told during our stops in Spain is that for some Europeans Spain is a bargain and many do come for Holidays.  As we walked by several restaurants and looked at menus the prices did seem very reasonable.  In hindsight maybe we should have tried one of the pastries to see for $1.00 Euro what the taste would be like but we didn't stop.  Maybe next time.  

We enjoyed a wonderful night on Crystal Serenity.  We first enjoyed a pre-cruise drink at the Crystal Cove.  Had a great conversation with a gent from Brisbane, Australia on not only his first Crystal Cruise but his first cruise.  He certainly picked a top cruise line for that first cruise.  One of the aspects of cruising we enjoy is discovery.  For us discovery takes place off the ship while in port but also on-board with the diverse set of guests and crew who are on-board.  There is so much to learn from others including culture of their respective home countries.

From there we went to the Crystal Dining Room.  Caviar for Keith and a mushroom appetizer for Anne Marie, Caviar for Keith followed by salads and Lobster for the two of us.  The meal was spectacular and the waitstaff is amazing.  Lorinc is our Sommelier and knows his wine.  Wine is another area in which we never stop learning.  Top right is Michael our waiter from Cape Town, South Africa.  As previously mentioned his wife also is on board and works as part of the dining room team as well.  Bottom left photo is Senior Waiter Claudia who resides in Portugal and just returned for the start of this cruise.  
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We attended the Crystal Society Party.  The party is for those guests who have sailed one or more prior time with  Crystal Cruises. With this voyage being seven days this was a combined welcome and Crystal Society Party.  

Captain Giske introduced his Senior Officers:

Vice Captain Juan Fernandez; Chief Engineer Giovanni Tropez; Hotel Director Hubert Buelacher; Cruise Director Gary Hunter and Ship's Doctor Alea Brand.
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Captain Giske awarded the employee of the month who is a member of the Pastry team.  

The Captain noted that guests on-board represent 29 different nationalities.  Those from the USA represented about 45% of total guests.  Other countries with a lot of guests included Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Captain Giske also mentioned that Crystal Cruises had been selected number 1 for the 25th year by readers of Conde Nast.  We believe the Captain mentioned that Crystal River Cruises was selected number 2.

Crystal Society Hostess Alissa did the Crystal Society recognition   Alissa mentioned some guests who had milestones over this cruise and Olga who lives on the ship whom we know quite well for having the most number of cruises of anyone on board.  She also mentioned a couple who we have known for years for having the second highest total.  In fact, we were on the same cruise with them in May on Crystal Symphony and were invited to dinner with them one night by the Captain and one night we were with them and another couple at a table hosted by the Vice Captain.  

We were recognized for having sailed the most Crystal Cruises other than the three people mentioned who are on this voyage. After reading a short cruising biography about us we were called to the front.    Anne Marie received a bouquet of flowers and Keith a boutonnière.  ​

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We slept well as we sailed to our next port of call in Malaga.  In order to arrive on time we were sailing at 20 knots per hour.  Although the Captain had mentioned that there would be a strong wind the ride was very comfortable.  

We kept the morning routines that many of you have come to know.  Keith worked out at the Fitness Center, Anne Marie took a long walk and we enjoyed breakfast in our room.  We arrived to Malaga at 8:00 AM.

Our first visit was in 2007.   Malaga lies along the beautiful Costa del Sol, and is located seventy miles inside the Strait of Gibraltar. It has a wealth of historical sites, including a 16thcentury cathedral and the Morrish Alcazaba Fortress
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Malaga has a population of 600,00 people.  It has a wealth of historical sites.

Highlights include:

Museo Picasso Malaga a museum which opened in 2003 and has 285 works donated by the Picasso family.  

Gibralfaro; the castle was built in 929 CE by And-al-Rahman III.  

Alcazaba Fortress which was build by the Hammundid dynasty in the early 11th century.

Catedral de la Encarnacion which is a Roman Catholic Church built in Renaissance Architecture.  It was constructed over a long period between 1528  and 1782.

Centro de Arte Contemporanco is a modern art museum.

We visited Malaga in April of 2007 as part of World Cruise 2007.  We took the shuttle into town but it was raining.  Although we had our rain coats on and umbrellas with us we decided that given how hard it was pouring (with some thunder and lightening) that we would be best to just stay one the shuttle and return back to the ship.
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Although the weather cleared by afternoon we decided we would stay on-board Serenity and enjoy the ship.  With no sea days and some ports we would like to visit before it is time to leave Serenity we felt this was a good approach for us.

We took another long walk inside the ship, had lunch at the Lido Cafe.  Afterwards, Anne Marie walked and Keith worked out at the Fitness Center and we enjoyed the rest of the day speaking with crew and fellow guests.  This evening we will be dining at Prego.

​Anne Marie & Keith