Last evening before dinner we were back at the Crystal Cove to listen to Pianist Scott Mitchel perform.
The wonderful Raymond who is always so very kind posing with Anne Marie for a photo.
Afterwards, we were back at the Crystal Dining Room.
We began our meal with Champagne and toasted the evening.
We each had appetizers. Anne Marie had the Frost Mushroom Tart which was very tasty.
Keith had the Salad of Home-Smoke Trout which he also enjoyed.
We did order a couple of items with Head Waiter Giuseppe a couple of nights ago to have this evening.
Our next course was a Caesar Salad which Giuseppe made for us. Over the years Giuseppe has been our Head Waiter from time to time and most recently on the Holiday Cruise. He is a gentleman and a consummate professional and has been with Crystal Cruises for along time and for us this is part of what makes Crystal so very special for us which is knowing so many people, both crew and guests who we see often each time we return for another Crystal Cruise.
We had also pre-ordered our second course with Giuseppe which was Beef Wellington. It was delicious and we forgot to get a photo of it.
We enjoyed a good night sleep last evening as Serenity made its way to today's port of call in Belfast.
We had the same routine today as yesterday.
Keith was up first and worked out on the Elliptical Machine for 90 minutes and then went to the Lido Cafe for coffee and to read and to write. He spoke with Lido Deck Stewards Max, Phil, Michael and Raymond who were setting up the Cafe for the guests who would be arriving for breakfast.
We then had an early breakfast in our room as Keith was attending another Spin Class which was taught this time around by Fitness Director James. Keith was the only guest participating.
When one is the only person in a Spin Class with an instructor it can be even more challenging because the instructor is focused only on that one person. James ran through Keith through a lot of fast paced routines and more so than if there were several people in attendance as he knows how hard Keith can work in class. It was challenging and on the last song before the final cool down, James had Keith go at 100%+ for the entire song. On the bright side, the workout certainly made it seem like it was hot inside and outside the ship and burning those calories allows one to eat more. LOL, but true.
We then got ready to visit Belfast.
Ironically, last September we enjoyed our first visit to Belfast and in less than twelve months we find ourselves back again. When we were here last year we took a Crystal Private Adventure which was customized just for us. This included a visit to a Castle where Queen Elizabeth stays when she visits here and very few get to see and we had a private tour of the Titanic Museum as well as a Private Tour at the Belfast Harbour Office and a Private lunch with the Director and CEO of the Harbour and the Vice President of Public Relations. We did visit some sites in downtown Belfast and saw first hand a Catholic and Protestant area divided by a wall.
Given that we did an extensive tour, this time around we took the shuttle into downtown Belfast to walk around on our own.
Thankfully, it was not raining, but it was very cloudy so the photos will be on the darker side.
City Hall which was built in 1906
Lots of beautiful flower displays.
Albert Clock Tower
Anne Marie was in charge of the maps.
We revisited the exterior of City Hall which we had visited last September including that time an extensive tour inside the building.
There is a section, including a garden, dedicated to those who lost their lives on the Titanic.
Once back on the ship, we enjoyed lunch at the Lido Cafe. We made our usual salad entrees but today seemed to be a combination of foods from selected nationalities. For example, one station had several different types of sausage, as well as sauerkraut and soft pretzels.
For the second time of the voyage, Captain Birger joined us for lunch as he sat directly next to us. We never run out of conversation with the Captain. He will be captain for the voyage we take of the Northwest Passage next year.
Keith brought his paddle tennis racquet to lunch as he normally does to play after lunch. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate as it began to drizzle and we even had some rain downpours from time-to-time.
After lunch, since Keith could not play Paddle Tennis he went back to the Fitness Center for yet another workout while Anne Marie walked inside the ship for an hour. Later, we read and wrote.
This evening we will be having dinner at Silk Road and will post about that tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.....
"The only man who makes a mistake is the man who does nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt
Keith & Anne Marie
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