Liner Lady

Friday, 22 April – Caribbean Sea

I awoke relatively late, dressed and ran up stairway A around ten o’clock, arriving atop just as C. was heading down the lift. He returned for a quick comment then to a “muster” for his group.  I went outside to walk the deck and check the fantail.  Attended Waldemar’s lecture on Caracas, then simply wandered about among the shops, Queen’s Room and Grand Lounge till lunchtime.  This was the day for the Mauretania International Bazaar, and I met Luann for the eating of Buffet-served foods placed all over the sides of the restaurant.  Took pictures including one of Mark and one of Bryan and Robert, all three wine stewards.  Because of the crowds I wasn’t really successful in procuring what I wanted, and we two left, satiated, and walked around the deck together a few times.  We then parted and I played the piano in Midships Lounge an hour or so.  Contacted Bob Doherty, about the concert scheduling, but it won’t change because he hinted this was a trial run for the Trans-Atlantic run.  I left a bio with his assistant, then dashed to the Theatre to hear Vincent Price introduce his new movie with Ann Southern, Bette Davis, and Lillian Gish,  “The Whales of August.”   When he was finished, I left because I wanted to keep my date with C. in Queen’s Grill Lounge for tea.  He was quite busy at times and I had a nice conversation with a lady named Ann who is a choral singer.  She has been on tour to Russia with a group in Pasadena.  A shoreline with mountains is looming up to Starboard, South America I presume. 

The headwind has been strong, whipping up the water with whitecaps, but the weather is beautiful as usual.  I went up a little early toward the dining room for dinner, and had a nice chat with a lady from San Francisco.  She was a choir singer but can’t sing now.  A college bum she calls herself.  I continued walking and went down to the pool and Spa, where I sat on a chaise a while watching the activities.  You will note I don’t mention the lifts at all, and that is because I am determined not to use them if at all possible.  I need my exercise and figure all the stairs hither and yon are more fun that pacing the Boat Deck all the time!

All four of us tablemates reached the dinner table at once for a change.  All had the halibut.  My dessert was a noisette and chocolate pudding – a tall narrow molded cake.  I then went to hear Gillian sing.  Okay I guess.

At eleven C. called to say he wasn’t finished yet and would go straight to bed,  so I went up to Boat Deck and sat in a deck chair until I started feeling the spray of the deck wash down crew,  then I went to the fantail and stood looking aft at the half moon and wake.  A distant light was on the horizon.  Tiring of that, I surveyed the forward view and went into Magrodome to listen to the dance music of the band, Onyx.  Back to the cabin by 12:40 and to bed.

Saturday, 23 April – Caracas, Venezuela

I awoke before seven and saw we were stopped.  By the time I emerged to Boat Deck we were backing in to the dock.  I joined Louann for the Caracas bus tour.  We drove from La Guira to the city via a mountainous super highway, up from the port past mountainsides with many houses built on the sides.  These are “ranchitos” which the immigrants build for temporary housing.  They are like squatters.  In town we saw the government center buildings and chambers, which used to be a convent;  went inside an ornately decorated chamber with its dome painted to depict battles for freedom from Spain.  We were constantly reminded to watch our purses and wallets, and in spite of vigilance, some people lost them.  Hampton reported four guys tried from all sides to get his, but they failed with him.  He is a big black “strapper” and could be formidable! Back on the bus we traveled around the city to the middle and higher income areas, then to the avenue of Heroes, where we took pictures.  I was very glad when I headed back to the QE2 by one o’clock.  Lunch in the Columbia Restaurant.

I attended the Venezuelan Folklore Show – dances and singing in the Grand Lounge.  Tried the movie and didn’t like it, so walked out and headed for the cabin.  Fell asleep till near six o’clock, then dressed for dinner.  After dinner I went with Mary to the Grand Lounge to watch the dancing.  Paul and Patricia were having a grand time with the fast dances. 

C. fetched me at the cabin near eleven  and then we went to the Pig.  Most of these visits followed a pattern of drinks and general chatter with the various young waiters from all restaurants as they come off duty.  They are generally full of the events they had with their guests, and of course, complaints.  Some of them haven’t realized I am not part of the crew, which gives me a bit of a laugh.  I wouldn’t mind being part of the crew for sure!

Sunday, 24 April – Martinique

What a wonderful day.  C.  thought he wouldn’t be off, so I proceeded to get my launch ticket and wait for my turn to go ashore.  By 11:30 I boarded the tender, and again got pictures of QE2 in the harbor.  [The most beautiful picture wherever we go always seems to be  Queen Elizabeth 2.  People on shore gawk at her and we passengers look back at her when we leave her in the tenders!] 

When we landed I photographed the statue of Christopher Columbus, then looked at the market stalls. As I completed my first round, I spied C. in his Thai shorts and shirt.  He had gotten “watch off” after all, so we were so pleased to have the day together.  A very nice taxi driver named Maurice drove us around the island, showing us flowers, jungles, villages, Sacré Coeur (downsized), all the while conversing in French.  C. speaks it well too.  We stopped for drinks along the way, first at a roadside stand and conversed in French with another man regarding politics.  I faked understanding.  Saw Montague Pelée the volcano and the town it destroyed in 1904.  Again, we stopped for a drink and C. bought me Anthuriums to make into a floral display.  He also picked a bird of Paradise and hibiscus. 

Back in town, we photographed the statue of Napoleon’s wife, Josephine with Paul and Patricia, then searched in vain for food.  There is nothing open on Sunday, so we just had another drink and returned to the ship around four o’clock.    I dressed formally for a special “residual” cocktail party at which I finally got to meet Captain Alan Bennell officially!   We chuckled about the barefoot girl etc. posed for a picture, then I went off to dinner.  Guy and we three gals laid a bet on what Hampton would want to order, and he went ahead and pre-ordered a steak for him.  Sure enough Hampton agreed and he got his steak.  The little black- haired waiter is Darren.   Crème caramel for dessert at last!

I tried listening to Lynda Glory’s cabaret show “Bonjour  Paris,” then returned to the cabin via Boat Deck.