Day 55 New York, New York.

I had no intention of waking up in time to watch as Queen Elizabeth edged its way along the West River to its berth in Manhattan. But, I did wake up and curiosity got the better of me allowing me to watch from my balcony as the ship turned at 90 degrees into its birth (I think 90) at “something” past six. There was no going back to sleep and eventually, I had breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant, the first time on this voyage I was to be waited upon in the morning. Excellent it was too.

I had promised to take Denise to Jo Junior’s, my one-time regular eatery/diner in Lower Manhattan. We took a taxi to Union Square which is close by, and walked around exploring a little as the weather warmed up. Eventually, we arrived at Jo Junior’s. It seemed smaller than I remember and after Denise had visited the rest room, she remarked that I “sure knew how to show a girl a good time!” However, the food was as good as ever. I recognised most of the staff from “days of yore,” but without the late Richard C. Faber Jnr., there was a discernable emptiness and a feeling of the unlikelyhood of my ever going back there. I hope I am wrong. However, it still had that “at- home” familiarity, not only inside, but outside on the streets, also.

I had the notion of taking a photograph of Queen Elizabeth from atop the Empire State Building, and creating a picture very similar to one I took in 1971 of a two year old QE2. We walked from the diner, being assured by a local it could be reached in 20 minutes. Perhaps! We took around 45 as Denise became increasingly disenchanted. We had both been up the Empire State Building several times previously and decided that at forty something dollars each to reach the observatory, my enthusiasm for recreating that perfect image vanished “like the dew in the morn.” We instead, enjoyed a relaxing coffee at a nearby Starbucks before hailing a taxi back to the ship.

The North American heatwave has subsided now, and I fear a return to the lacklustre temperatures of an ordinary summer as we steam north. Halifax, our next port, should be still be quite warm; it was at almost this time when we called there in 2015 as part of the Cunard 175 celebrations.

A new tranche of passengers joined today, seemingly many of whom come from Germany. No talking of Brexit then! I wonder if Erma Klindt and friends will be joining us for dinner tonight.There is a glorious sunset from the aft of deck 9 as we head away from New York.

Steve, I think from Maryland, joined us for dinner tonight. Erma and friends were not in evidence anywhere. Thus there was no need for Bob and Frances to dine at another table. Only Denise and I went to the show after dinner. The performer was professional mind reader “Kennedy.” I found it far too complicated to enjoy, but at times, it was very clever.

Well, that’s it for the U.S.A. We are on our way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am told of a Royal Rendezvous with QM2, complete with fireworks. I am not sure about the fireworks, but I shall be meeting up with friends from QM2 during our simultaneous stay in Halifax.

Many thanks for following my blog,

David.