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Live review with pics, Equinox, Oct 27, TA Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale.

cl.klink

By cl.klink,
in Celebrity Cruises

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daisy-mae

daisy-mae

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I believe the relaxation lounge is called the Solarium. It's a beautiful, quiet enclosed space with a pool and wooden loungers (with pads); children are not admitted, and the atmosphere is so calming that it is the perfect spot for an afternoon snooze.

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Luckynana

Luckynana

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Beautiful pictures! The Persian Gardens are wonderful, but not the relaxation lounge. The lounge is on deck 11 all the way forward.

Cherre

 

 

Cherre, thank you for clarifying this. I look forward to "relaxing" in this lounge next March!:cool:

 

Maryann

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Barwick Cruiser

Barwick Cruiser

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I believe the relaxation lounge is called the Solarium. It's a beautiful, quiet enclosed space with a pool and wooden loungers (with pads); children are not admitted, and the atmosphere is so calming that it is the perfect spot for an afternoon snooze.

 

The solarium is not the relaxation lounge. Two different places.

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cl.klink

cl.klink

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Thanks for all had good responses.

 

Today was Valencia and a good "do it on your own" port of call. A very early docking (7am) and sail away (2 pm) did not leave a lot of time and the city is compact. It's too far to walk there from ship, but a round trip shuttle bus from ship - city center left every 20 min for 5€ only.

 

In Barcelona a local said they main differ from between Spain to south in that they (in Barcelona) know how to work and get things done, but southern Spain knows how to live. I'm not sure how much Valencia shows this difference, but I think I see it a bit. Barcelona felt like a city at work, people busy going from A to B. They generate more money than other regions, apparently, fueling some politics. But, wealth brings in services and options, perhaps why Barcelona is a popular international travel spot. Last month, it was said to be the 3rd most visited city in Europe (behind London and Paris).

 

By contrast, except for us cruisers, Valencia seemed dominated by locals, and felt more like people living life. Though the 3rd biggest city in Spain, it has less hustle and bustle. Newer areas have modern architecture, tall condos. Older areas have beautiful streets with those balconied 5-7 story tall very European looking buildings. At Mercado Central we saw locals getting food for tonight's meal amongst stands selling produce, freshly butchered animals with all kinds of "parts" on display, and a variety of newly caught fish. At the Basilica next to the Cathedral, an early morning mass was underway. Clean and flowered balconies exuded a community civic pride. While we ate tapas at an open air cafe on a public square, a police escorted bannered protest swept through (something about bus fares). Interesting architecture from different periods of the last millennium stood side by side (Celebrity Today said the region has been inhabited by Romans, Moors, Visigoths, and Aragonese - had to look up the last two!). Add in several nice museums, a huge aquarium and science center. It all made for a feel of a place to be, and live in, where Mallorca had felt like a place to be away from where you live. So, I really liked the vibe here. Relaxed, real, substantial, healthy city with a thriving sense of local culture.

 

Enjoyed a sail away from the aft bar area overlooking the sea again. I love this area for the 270 degree view you get; really makes you feel you are on the ocean. Maybe my next cruise should be an aft cabin? BTW, where should my next cruise be? Considering Alaska or South America. Antarctica? Maybe New England - Canada? I want a cruise I've not done and I want to book while I'm on ship to avoid the post cruise depression I predict November 10.

 

It was formal night tonight on MDR but in Blu we were casually nice and I wore my blue blazer (NOT wrinkled packed into my one bag carry on) and felt fine even without a tie (though most men wore one; narry a tux to be seen in Blu though). Another good meal. I am glad we booked Aqua so far. Have liked Blu, and the Aqua feature with jets in the shower is terrific. Having a leg rest for our deck chairs is nice too.

 

I still can't get over how big the bloody ship is. Amazing engineering and planning behind building it, and a ton of thought and analysis behind its smooth operation. Really impressive to sit back and watch even as I briefly experience it.

 

Pics to follow. Long day tomorrow after arriving at Malaga, with 9 hour excursion to Granada and Alhambra Palace.

 

- Joel

 

 

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cl.klink

cl.klink

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Cocker2. Yes mostly English bobbin lace.

Sorry Joel, didn't mean to hijack your wonderful blog. Looking forward to more of your trip.

Cherre

 

 

No worries!

- Joel

 

 

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cocker2

cocker2

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Hope you have taken something slightly warmer to wear at the Alhambra today. DH and I went on one our lNd based holidays and ended up having to buy a sweatshirt each as the temperature dropped quite dramatically. Looking forward to your report and photos later Joel.

Jan.

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cl.klink

cl.klink

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Able to sleep in some today before ship docked 11:00 am in Malaga. Plan for today was a Celebrity tour to Granada (2 hours away) to see Alhambra.

 

Malaga, and Southern Spain, is a sunny, and old, community. The Phoenicians were once here (them, I had heard of). Picasso was a boy here. The area is fairly arid, but over the mountains and toward Granada water runs off of the "Sierra Nevada" ("snowy mountain") giving some agriculture. Tourism is still the biggest industry, and is prolific, but lack of other economies is part of why the area still struggles after the 2008 recession. The unemployment rate at times has been near 33%! We saw a newly built jail and a newly built hospital that are unused because the government cannot afford to operate them at present.

 

Arriving in Granada we had a buffet lunch in a local hotel, and doing so had the virtue that it was indeed an effective deterrent to starvation. As we finished, a mariachi band arrived to sing "canta y no llores" and asked 10€ for their CD, happily without aggressively reversing the digestive process.

 

The Alhambra is a big deal. It might be the best thing I'll see all this trip, maybe the best thing I'll see for years. It's substantial both for what you can see and experience now, and what it symbolizes.

 

The key thing about this area is that it was ruled by Muslim empires ("Moors") for more than 700 years. Then, in a seismic shift that feels like it still reverberates now, the Christians took over in 1492 and have dominated since.

 

The pinnacle of Moorish rule was symbolized by the Alhambra, which must have been a legendary place in its day. The Alhambra was a walled fortified area of Granada that held the palace and official headquarters for the Muslim rulers. It became a pinnacle of Islamic architecture and art. It's beauty gave a larger than life iconic status in its day, and since. It's lasting influence in part is because it was the last stand for the Moorish empire, until finally it fell in the end too, handing complete victory to the Christian "reconquista."

 

Understand, when in January 1492 the last Muslim ruler surrendered to Queen Isabella and fled to North Africa, the Spanish ruler took over Alhambra certain that

she had been chosen by God to bring Christianity to the area. Whereas the Muslim rulers had lived with Jews and Christians, Isabella said everyone had to convert or leave (that is, except for those that were to be killed). All mosques were destroyed (I'm told there were none here till the one that has existed since 2005). Yet, even she could not bring herself to destroy the Alhambra. Partly this was because the famous place was a plum to own. But in part, it was said that she thought the buildings and gardens were so beautiful, God must have helped create it!

 

There are several themes in the Alhambra. Stucco ceramic tiles are often seen on ceilings, and look like stalactites, apparently an allegory to a story in the life of the prophet Mohammed. Carved wood ceilings are often featured with themes meant to inspire an Islamic view of heaven. Molded plaster walls were died vibrant colors, but no longer seen. Wooden overlays covered many windows with a filigree that allowed one to gaze out without a person below being able to see who was inside. Frequent use of water and lush vegetation were intended to inspire tranquility and impress visitors, especially since water was otherwise scarce in much of the Muslim world at the time. Little or no pictures of people or animals were used because Muslims believe this is forbidden by the holy Quran.

 

The tour was run by Celebrity and did have some of the trappings of a ship run excursion, including (beyond the above) crowded 3 bus loads of sometimes whiny and not always well behaved tourists. But a 9 hour excursion on a 10 hour port of call is too risk to do on your own. If it's ship tour, they can hold the boat for you if your delayed, and if that does not work they'll repatriate you to the ship an next stop.

 

Pics to come.

 

- Joel

 

 

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cl.klink

cl.klink

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Alhambra: King Charles' palace. Rather than destroy then palace of the vanquished Moorish ruler, Charles used the space next his own Renaissance style palace on the grounds. It was never fully finished, nor lived in, because after he was widowed it was used only for official functions. This is the main welcoming area inside.

 

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cl.klink

cl.klink

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Alhambra: Courtyard of the Myrtles. The entry way into the Palacios Nazaries, the Sultan's palace itself. They would have had color on walls, elegant carpets and cushions and fine furniture.

 

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bfdd62f57adf8e5230c150fb9e66d215.jpg

 

 

 

 

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