http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , California , Los Angeles , Long Beach en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 05:17:21 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 05:17:21 +0000 Marry me girl be my fairy to the world Be my very own constellation A teenage bride with a baby inside Getting high on information And buy me a star on the boulevard It39s CalifornicationI like to compare California to an amusement park. If god create the world in seven days he was in a funny mood when he was drawing California x39s and o39s. It simply has everything. From the ugly to th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-724839.html We are up at around 0530 after we have folded away the beds and shower and dress. It is 0630 and the train is just stopping at Barstow it should have stopped there at 0330 so we are approximately 3 hours behind schedule. Although the tour guide reckons there is an hour of slack in the schedule and we should be only 2 hours late in getting into Los AngelesWe eat breakfast in the dining car at http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-717921.html I close my eyes as the plane gains speed its wheels regretfully lifting off the ground and I can feel the pull of gravity as we move further and furher into the sky. The land falls far below white clouds move in. I always hate this part the end of a trip. It39s bittersweet though too often I taste the bitter more than the sweet and I can39t help but wish for a delay or that I might have http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-715416.html Safe premises are what you desire when there is certainly material really worth all of your lifes earning invested in business. CCTV camera systemscan support in bringing the component of safety for your staff as well as your workplace. The evaluation of small business desires will help you in managing the vital CCTV DVR technique for inexpensive safety actions.There are many unique cameras and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-689056.html I guess they are happy Nana is already here... http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-674413.html There isnt anything sadder than waking up on Debarkation Day.So the night before we were given the option to pack and place our bags outside the door for Carnival to carry our bags off or keep our bags and selfdebark. Given the time we finished with Chefs Table and all that freeflowing wine the decision really was no longer up to us ... we would keep all our bags and selfdebark. Which http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-657919.html There is so much to do when you first get on the ship But now we can go outside and see what39s going on for Sail AwayBut first ... Safety DrillWe were Lifeboat Station 5 but we had to meet in the Normandie Main Lounge and then be led here by Carnival Team Members. Hopefully we won39t have to use this emergency system during the trip ... I don39t think I could find my way here mysel http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-654501.html The Lido Deck has the best of two worlds ... food and fun in the sun Along with everyone else who just embarked we headed up to the Paris Lido Restaurant AKA Lido Buffet for some lunch. Outside was the Mongolian Grill with its continuously long lines along with hamburgers and hotdogs. Inside was where the rest of the food was laid out. Here was the main buffet salad bar fruit bar dessert s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-654483.html Our cabin is in a great location ... it seems everything begins at the Empress Deck. So lets explore a bit.Blue Riband LibraryWe head up the grand staircase to the Atlantic Deck and come to our first room. The Blue Riband LIbrary had a great decor ... very nautical. The windows were lined with ship models ... gee is that the Normandie And is that the Queen Mary There were pieces of art and s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-653318.html The Porthole Cabins on the Fantasy Class ships are by far the best deal for the money. Not only will you pay Inside Cabin prices with an Outside view but you can choose any of the four cabin decks without a price increase at least that was our experience. Thus we landed ourselves on the Empress deck Deck 7 just a short walk to the Paradise Atrium Plaza ... and all the fun. While looking at t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-652692.html One of the perks of staying onboard the Queen Mary is early checkin for the cruise right from the Queen Mary ship. Between the hours of 930 and 1130 a.m. we could bring all of our bags to the Engine Room of the Queen Mary and everything would be taken care of. Well we were still running around the QM and really werent in any big hurry because we were enjoying what we were doing and quite f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-652669.html The next morning we were awakened by what sounded like an announcement being piped into the ship. I initially thought how cool it was that the Queen Mary carried its authenticity through to making cabin announcements like on a working cruise ship. Come to find out as I came out of my sleeping fog it was the Carnival Paradise docked and trying to kick this weekends passengers off the boat ... http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-652656.html Being aboard the Queen Mary is really like stepping back in time to that wonderful Art Deco era of the 30s. Not only is the decor rich with originality but big band swing music from the 30s could be heard all over. The ambiance was that great. I love the architecture from this era it39s so beautiful. The simple linear details really provide a lot of opportunity for the photographer I http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-652636.html Carnival Paradises decorative theme is Great Ocean liners of the World thank you ships architect Joe Farcus so it seems very fitting to spend a precruise overnight on the Queen Mary.The Queen Mary sits afloat at the Port of Long Beach ... very handy for those embarking on the Carnival ships that dock there. I booked directly through the Queen Mary Web site and found a Park Sail deal at http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-647090.html SWIFT MT760An account with the SWIFT MT760 capability allows banktobank SWIFT electronic verification of the account and will include a blocked funds provision. There is no other bank guarantee provision available in the SWIFT instructions. There is a 1 million minimum account size for this SWIFT wire communication. Additional costs apply.SWIFT MT799An account with the SWIFT MT799 capability a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-640618.html Packing again we caught the shuttle to Long Beach Port and arrived around 10.00 and joined the 3000 other passengers in the hustle and bustle to get checked in baggage stowed and stateroom keys issued. We finally boarded around 12.30 and as we couldnt get access to our room until 2.00 it was time to explore and check out the boats lunch service. The ship is absolutely huge some 11 stories high http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-616184.html Soooo was up way earlier then i wanted to be in order to get to the airport to get my flight to Mexico.Arriving at the airport i looked at my itinerary to check what terminal i needed to get dropped off at. It was then to my suprise that i was only 24 hours too early.. After a few curses and many laughs we drove back to Long beach to plan our action packed day.After little debate and thought w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-610098.html Hmmm what did i do today.... only hung out on a 6 million dollar boat... then went for a cruise around the Long beach harbour in the little speed boat thingy.. was a really nice day 30 degrees to be exact.After mooching around the staple shopping places walmart.. which i now am in love with we headed to downtown LA to watch the dodgers play the cubs.The atmosphere at the game is awesome we s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-609621.html The Final JournalI am ready to be homeThe ultimate DeMilitarized Zone.This journey has been a physical mental and emotional rollercoaster. I am glad I took the ride but I am ready to disembark. I am reminded of a scene in Bram Stroker's Dracula 1992 where Mina asks Dracula to Take me away from all this death I too have been around it long enough. How fortunate that I am able to hop http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-526496.html We decided to have a rest day today and just take it easy. Laid in till late and then went off in search of breakfast as it was 18 in the hotel. Found a fast food Mexican restaurant and had a lovely meal. I had chicken tacos served with black beans Steve had fajitas Nick and Andy both had barbecue chicken pizzas. We all enjoyed our meals it is so nice having lots of different types of food to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Long-Beach/blog-522691.html