We Took a Walk…we met a Cat…

September 28, 2025 Cartagena, Spain

Beautiful weather for a stroll down Cartagena’s main avenue…but first Sunday breakfast.

Timmy always has eggs on Sunday…

So we ordered omelets …mine with crab…

Tim’s with pepper, onion and crab…

Mili brought Timmy two donuts …such a comedian

After first breakfast, we head to the Bistro for cappuccinos and a Portuguese tart and maybe a cookie…

We can’t remember if this is our fourth or fifth visit to Cartagena…anyway…we love this beautiful walkable city. This was our first visit on a Sunday…so it was wonderful seeing all the families out and about. This platform was set up in front of City Hall…and we spied two little guys riding scooters back and forth…meanwhile their mom was calling to them to get off …”GET OFF”…

A few minutes later, some policemen escorted them back to mom. Beyond adorable.

Every city has its own distinct tiles.

Timmy took this photo because it has meaning to him…and I totally forget what that significance is…hopefully, I will remember to ask him and update this photo. Something from his Navy days, I think. Update: it is the symbol for the Electronics Technician rate in the US Navy. In this photo, the nucleus and orbiting particles have been replaced with coffee beans.

Okay…so this was a huge disappointment…If you’ve been following this blog, you might remember that we have a favorite coffee place in Cartagena…on our first visit…our guide introduced us to the owner and we fell in love with the coffee and the owner…on subsequent visits we’d show the owner photos of himself with Timmy and he’d pretend to remember us…anyway, our last visit was in 2019 (when we had 32 days between bliss and heaven on Serenity) …sadly the cafe no longer exists…the very sweet hostess, showed us through the place and I snapped these pics…bittersweet.

Love,love this little guy

Love him so much, I had to take 37 photos…

I parked Timmy and set off for a bit

At the very end of the avenue, I came upon local folks enjoying this cafe…

…here you have tourists enjoying this cafe…how do I know they are tourists? …Photos of the food. Many years ago a guide told us “never eat at a restaurant where they have photos of the food…that’s always going to be a place geared to tourists” IFKYK

Okay…this, right here was the highlight of our walk…As I’m walking back to Timmy, I spy this cat and his human.

I stop and watch the cat…he walks along with the man…stopping and sniffing the tiles.

Like really sniffing…every once in a while the owner calls him: “Vincent…come!” And the cat looks up and follows …We’ve owned cats…I know this is not usual…so I run ahead, grab Timmy and point him towards this interesting duo.

Well, of course my guy stops Vincent’s owner and we all have a wonderful conversation about Vincent …how he’s grown from a kitten on the streets of Cartagena…

Vincent walks the main avenue at least twice a day

I’ve never petted a hairless cat…feels remarkably similar to Arlene’s Cocoa and Wondyr…American Hairless Terriers.

Oh my goodness …the eyes🩵

Such a wonderful encounter and why I love traveling with Timmy…I knew that once I pointed Vincent out to him…he’d find a way to engage…

Still walking, we stopped so I could snap this church…then we noticed a beautiful family taking pics of their newly baptized baby.

The Grandma noticed me, and I sheepishly apologized for taking a photo…she wouldn’t have the apology…

…She orchestrated a family photo just for us…are these children adorable or what?

More walking…

Parked Timmy again…in front of a bakery…just in case💙

Uploaded two of these…can’t remember how to delete photos in WordPress. 🫤

More walking…and I park Timmy again…I think today is a record…

Finally, I pick him up and we head back to the ship…

Although it was late, Marketplace was held open for two late returning tours…Yay!

I found a quiet shady spot on the pool deck and read for a while…Libby is going to reclaim my book in three days…IFKYK

That’s my spot, marked by my hat.

I might have had a Margarita …

We cleaned up and got cute way earlier than we like to…but we never miss the opportunity to experience the beautiful Anna Alonso…joining the Showband on the occasion of the Captains reception…

Anna💜💜💜

Our friend Contessa Barbara was honored by the Crystal Society hostess for having completed 94 cruises. Barbara is true Crystal Royalty.

Anna after her set…she is always so gracious with the guests.

Rodion!

Emilie is a treasure.

Anton and Tim deciding on an appropriate wine

Ramazan🩵🩵🩵

The seas were a bit rocky…These pics, taken at dinner really can’t convey the strength of the winds. Nice sunset afterglow though.

This pasta with truffles was a first for us…beyond the beyond😊

Timmy’s Quail

I keep forgetting to mention the new butter service on board both Crystal ships…it really is little touches like this that elevate the Crystal experience. Every night there is a different butter…