Day 3 “Pictures (which might become) at an Exhibition…

A few views taken around R.M.S Queen Mary.

1, 2, Entrance to and inside the Promenade Cafe where I would enjoy breakfast and lunch today.

3, 4, 5, and 6, The former Cabin/First Class Library, now one of many souvenir shops.

7, 8, and 9 This accommodation used by Winston Churchill in the early 1950s, now another retail outlet.

10, and 11 Entrance to, and inside the First/Cabin Class Observation Lounge.

12, and 13 Inside my “spooky cabin”

14, One of the numerous dark corridors to staterooms on M Deck.

15, “Queen Mary meets Carnival Splendor”

16, and 17, Now the mist has cleared, an accross the water view of Long Beach.

18, and 19, outside, on board, near Churchill’s Restaurant.

Churchill’s on the Queen Mary has to be among the finest eateries in Southern California. I dined there once, alone, on a previous pilgrimage to the Queen Mary. The resident violinist played a wonderful piece of classical music just for me, at my table. Imagine my utmost surprise and delight when tonight, I was invited by a couple whom I had never met, to join them for dinner. Thank you David and Robyn from Texas for your unexpected and generous hospitality.

I have set no goal for this global wander. However, I should make the most of this 4th visit to the Queen Mary. In fact, years ago, I vowed that no visit to California would be without paying some kind of homage to the Queen Mary. So far, I have kept that pledge and no visit has ever disappointed. In fact, I am thinking about a train and bus ride to Long Beach, this time from New Orleans which I visited last as a 12 stone “almost-youth” in 1971. That really was “back in the day”.

Today started with howling winds, tempestuous frothing waters, torrential rain and a mist that almost obliterated any view of Long Beach accross the water. As this set of pictures suggest, how things can change so suddenly. Nevertheless, I am assured of further tempestuous weather during my brief stay here.

The resident pianist (who is brilliant) is playing “Send in the Clowns”. I feel guilty. Health issues preclude me from any type of drink, including sugar laced soft drinks or fruit juices. Yet I just wish to sit in this lovely bar as favourite melody follows favourite melody almost back to back. If this holiday continues as it has started, this surely will be the trip of a lifetime.

Thank you for reading.

David. 21.50 hrs 04.50hrs GMT 2/1/19