DAY 83 - DAY 77 CRYSTAL SERENITY

WELCOME TO DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

Elaine, thank you for your very nice comments.

Catherine, thank you for sharing your experiences contrasting the two voyages.  Like you we appreciate the diversity of the guests. We also feel that way about the crew.

We enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in our room.  Due to local requirements only non-alcohol drinks could be served at the lounges.  The exception was  three lounges where they could be served during dinner hours.  

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These are the menus from Waterside.

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We returned to the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant. 

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We enjoyed a wonderful meal.  Delicious food, great service and wonderful conversation.

For Appetizers Keith had the crab cake and Anne Marie had the chilled seafood salad.  We both had Caesar salad.  We were pleased that the additional item was Halibut and we thought it was delicious.  It was breaded lightly and a terrific choice for us.

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We slept well last evening.  Serenity departed at 9:00 PM and the seas were calm.  We both slept well and began our day with a workout for Keith followed by coffee and breakfast in our room.  We also walked for while.

We arrived to Durban, South  Africa at 7:00 AM.  The last two times we were on-board Serenity we missed Durban as we were on overland Safaris.  Our first visit was in  2007 and again in 2010.  We took tours on those visits.

Durban has the third largest population of all cities in South Africa.  With its beauty and subtropical climate it has become one of South Africa's most popular holiday destinations.  

Highlights include:

Victoria Market which is a traditional Indian style market that opened in 1973.

uShaka Marine World which is the fifth largest Marine Park and Aquarium in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Durban Art Gallery which is home to collections that are diverse and includes artwork along with historic pictures and artifacts.

The Golden Mile which is a popular beachfront including a stretch of golden sands.

Botanical Gardens which is Durban's oldest public institution and the oldest surviving botanical garden in all of Africa.  The first of its gardens was established in December of 1849.

We took the complimentary shuttle which ran between the pier and the drop-off in the city.  There was a lot of congestion in  the port and right outside the port.  An MSC ship was in port and it was turn-around day for them.  Once  we got beyond  two traffic lights the rest of the drive was quick.

We were dropped off  at Ushaka Marine World which had rides and lots of restaurants and stores.  Several large children groups were visiting there.  We walked to the end of the venue which took us to a walkway along  the beach.  Along the strip there are a total of sixteen teaches, gardens, skate park, hotels, restaurants and other facilities.

​At one point we saw two men  playing chess with “Texas” size chess pieces.

While walking on the pathway along  the beach.

After returning to the ship we enjoyed lunch at Marketplace followed by a walk inside the ship.

While walking the ship we ran into some of the crew members who are from South Africa who have family who have joined the ship today and will stay on-board until Cape Town.  In many cases it is the first time the family has been on-board Serenity and so very nice they can see where their child works.  Very special.

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We didn't have it but one of the items on the buffet was Durban Beef Bunny Chow.

The daily Reflections Program follows.

Cheers,

Anne Marie & Keith