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Published: October 26th 2018
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Lady Liberty? Choose one. The Queen Mary 2, somewhere in the North Atlantic
On board, finally, and settling into our stateroom is like coming home. Absurd though it may seem, we were just so delighted to end up in a spot where we do not have to move for seven days. Susan had everything unpacked and put away in the time it took me to read the room service menu and flick through the TV channels. Which is our usual division of labor upon arrival. Well, from each according to ability . . . .
We then went to the Royal Court theatre where I DID get up on the stage and Henry V all over the place to an audience of one. The smell of ham permeated the air, let me tell you! Bless her, she is so patient with me.
Then we checked out the rest of the ship to see what they have changed since the last time we were here.Most important, they left the little games area along the outer bulkheads intact. It’s just a little stretch of corridor with small tables and chairs, some crossword puzzles and games, which is right
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Governor's Island in the foreground, Manhattan, complete with WTC monument, behind beside some windows ‘way down on the third deck. It is a lovely place to sit and watch the ocean roll by (which is what we are here for!)There are no shops, no casinos, no bars, and no one trying to sell you something down there (a feature of passenger ships that I try to avoid. Passing off “lectures” on “how to buy art” at “our art store”, or “Introduction to Gaming” at the casino as entertainment pushes my buttons!)
AND, I am pleased and proud to report, the massive consumption of champagne cocktails has begun! For those of you who may have missed it: we had a difficult client who had threatened not to pay our (quite small!) bill. So, when the cheque did finally arrive, completely unexpectedly, we voted in a partnership meeting to spend the entire thing as “frivolously as possible,” to quote from the minutes. First was the DNA test for our dog, Lily. Turns out that “mixed breed” is something of an understatement. Second was champagne cocktails on the Queen Mary!
In fact, they now have champagne cocktails on the drinks menu. Five years ago, when we first asked
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Tall French woman still being detained by immigration authorities for one they had to find a bartender old enough to remember what went in them. Besides champagne. (I could hear the snotty comments about that from here, smarty pants!)
Now they are a regular feature. Ooooo, trend setters, we!! What next? Men wearing hats? God, think of the possibilities! Think of the future, the licensing rights, the social media glory, YouTube stardom!!! We could be the next Kardashian! Urgh.
Or not.
Our cabin is on the starboard side of the ship so we face south on the crossing. This time of year I wanted to get any sunlight we could. As a result, however, we had the best view of New York Harbor from our own balcony before we left. The sun was shining and it was a lovely day. Pictures attached.
As we left harbour, we passed the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the newest aircraft carrier in the Royal Navy, 3.6 billion pounds worth of machine. The Queen Mary stopped to render honours and we had a chance to gaze down upon the naval vessel. And a long way down it was, too. This ship of ours
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View from our balcony! (okay, so we don’t actually own it, we just rented it for a few days – and I allow some others to come along to defray costs. Positively philanthropic of me, I know) is so huge, it is hard to come to grips with. It is a thousand feet long, for heaven’s sake, and has to moor in Brooklyn because piers in Manhattan which can handle full-sized aircraft carriers are not big enough for it. Yike.
Odd note(s): “Rendering honours” to the Queen Elizabeth looked suspiciously like stopping beside it, pivoting so that all of the exterior cabin guests could get a good look, and blowing the ship’s horn six times. We were on the upper observation deck when that happened, and the sound was so loud and so deep that the ultrasonics from the blast were effectively paralyzing, even if only for a moment. I think my body just stopped and my knees buckled. Then the ship’s loudspeakers began to play a medley of mixed patriotic and navy related songs. Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, What Shall we do with A Drunken Sailor, and similar. Then it segued into, of all things, two Confederate
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Tiny little aircraft carrier. Perspective is everything. anthems: “The Bonnie Blue Flag” and “Dixie.” Hm? Ending with the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Okaaaay. That was an odd choice!
For the first time, we have asked to sit at dinner at a table for six, just to meet some other folks. Turns out they are all Canadians. How disappointing. Ottawa, Vancouver (but formerly Toronto), and Edmonton. Of course, the first thing we all did was establish hockey loyalties. We are Canadian, after all. Two dance teachers and dance school owners, mother and daughter, Grita (born in England) and Sharon (?) from Ottawa. Their most successful ex-student is now an actual Broadway star (as in Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, one of the male leads in Wicked, etc.) On the other side are Peter and Mary from Vancouver. He trades in pulp and paper, mostly to China. Mary is retired from many years of working for the Four Seasons hotel chain and wants to return to her first love, show business, specifically stand-up comedy.
They were a fun group and we only left when we noticed that we were about the only people left in the dining room.
Hey, I have to tell you about two nights ago in Paris. We end up at Samba, a Brazilian restaurant, where they manage to squeeze us into the last table for two cuz the place is packed. Next to us is a couple about our age (well, probably a little younger, dammit) who were there when we walked into the joint. We order appetizers and Brazilian sparkling rose (Brazil has a wine industry! Who knew?) and all of our stuff arrives before the next table gets served. Turns out the next door couple had explained to their waiter when they sat down that they had 8 p.m tickets to see Hamilton, and had been told that they would be served promptly. The woman calls her server over and mentions this to him, as it is now about 720. She is courteous but firm. She even notes that they had ordered pretty much we had.
So we lean over and offer to share. Seriously. Why not? Nobody with tickets to Hamilton should miss that show!!!!! We can always order more food. At that moment, their stuff arrives but the damage is done and we end up talking for the rest of the meal. “So,” says the woman, “do you folks live in the neighborhood?” And she and hubby are from New Jersey. We have been mistaken for New Yorkers!! By people who are almost from New York!
We talk until they finish up and leave, having exchanged holiday plans. A moment later someone hugs me from behind and the woman whispers in my ear, “Have a great time dancing on the Queen Mary with your wife!”
Naturally in the circumstances there was only thing I could say.
“My wife is here? How did she find us?”
Sorry. I thought it was funny. But then, I drink.
The sun is shining, the double espresso is kicking in, and Susan’s hair is nearly dry. Time to wander out onto the ship and see what mischief we can get into.
More later,
Tim
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