Liner Lady

Mombasa – Southampton Part 2 1992 

Tuesday, 31 March.  Istanbul 

My first act of the day was to check on C.  I quickly noticed his ringless hands as he spoke with security on the phone.  He then told me he and Graham were robbed last night by two men who claimed they were police.  He is still quite shaken but grateful he still has his little finger, since they couldn’t get that ring off, and one of the robbers talked the other out of biting it off! 

I then ate breakfast upstairs and departed on the tender for my tour of the Hippodrome, Santa Sophia and Bazaar.  I latched on to Glen Smith from Namibia and his friend Theresa, for the shopping, coming away with a bracelet, .and at $20 Turkish prayer rug depicting the “Niche.”  The hounding vendors never gave up!  We were back at the ship a little after one o’clock.  I had lunch at Hamburger Heaven.   Fernando asked me what happened to C. and I saw him pat his back in sympathy as I returned upstairs for dessert.  I sat with Vicki and her Mom eating Espresso ice cream.  Clark sat with us too a while.  Vicki’s Mom and I talked a long time re: her childhood in China and Eric Liddle who was her Sunday School teacher out there. [This is in reference to the movie “Chariots of Fire.”  Eric Liddle was the Olympic runner who had conflict with his religious beliefs when a race he was to run was scheduled for a Sunday.]

As we prepared to weigh anchor and depart, I went to the fantail to observe the beautiful Istanbul skyline.  I chatted at the rail with Susan and Leon from New York.  I read a while in my cabin, and then dressed formal for dinner.  I arrived as Florence was winding up and Glen was just starting.  Al and Peg arrived soon after and we all compared our day at the Bazaar.

I returned to my cabin and C. arrived at nine o’clock, exhausted and hot.  We talked over the episode and he poured out his concerns and upset.  The Dr. had talked with him longer than usual and we agreed that the feeling of violation is like a rape-victim.  This opened up for a good cleansing, deep and long discussion.

Wednesday, 1 April: Athens, Greece (Piraeus)

I ate breakfast with Mary and we went ashore to take tour 109.  We covered the harbors of Piraeus, Temple of Zeus in Athens, the Acropolis, lunch at Hotel de la Bretagne, then went out to Sounion to see the Temple to Poseidon.  Lovely shore road there and back by five.  I re-boarded the ship and stayed in my cabin.  I watched our departure on Channel 3, then prepared for dinner – Formal again.

Thursday, 2 April – Messina, Sicily.

Clocks retarded one hour.

The ship is due at one o’clock in Messina.  I attended the Waldemar Hanson lecture on Messina, Naples and so on, then the art lecture.  I left early to see us enter the Strait of Messina where Sylla and Charybdis governed the currents.  A beautiful sight of mountains on both sides in clear sunshine and blue sky, greeted me.

I ate lunch on One Deck Lido with Frank and Marion plus Mary,and then set out to tour the island of Sicily.  We went up to the top of the ridge to see both sides, views of Messina and volcanoes,  and returned around the north side.

We were back on the ship by five thirty.  C. had arranged for our splendid meal, but first he took me to the Pig where I saw Gary and James Bonner, plus other friends – Nicola for one.   I sang the “Lorelei” for the gang in the Pig, and then C. and I went to his deck to clean up.  I waited in the cabin for the food, which came in great quantity, melon, lobster vegetables, salad and apple pie à la mode in duplicate!  We had a delightful time consuming as much as we could – he concentrated on the lobster Thermador and I on the veggies.  I looked out the porthole in the dark, hoping to catch a glimpse of Stromboli but alas, it must have been on Starboard, not Port!

Friday,  3 April – Naples, Italy.

I took the Herculaneum tour in the morning and was back at the ship by one o’clock.  I had lunch with Mary, and then  took my music to One Deck Lido, hoping to learn a bit more.  The sun was out by then and though cool, it was comfortable in the sun.

At five thirty C. went off work so I returned to the cabin to await Pig time at six o’clock.  We did go to the Pig where I saw James, Gary, Nicola and others.  We parted at seven o’clock and I went to dinner. 

Saturday, 4 April: – Monte Carlo, Monaco.

I went ashore with Mary.  The ship is anchored off shore and is being held at cross- waves by a tugboat, which is tossing bravely while it tries to keep us in position.  Sometimes it has to go to the other side to hold our swing.  I visited the Jardin Exotique way up top of the cliffs, a rather long climb but well worth it, because the views of the Mediterranean and the ship were magnificent in brilliant sunshine.

However, when I was chatting with C. on the aft deck back on board, he said we may have to move to smoother waters before scheduled departure.  James Bonner came down for a break and invited C. and me to his cabin for a drink.  We went and enjoyed a quiet time with them.  They both can’t wait for their leave on April 9.

C. phoned me to say he doesn’t think we can get back to shore, because the tenders are bobbing so much.  When I looked out, sure enough, there they were on hold! – full of passengers!

Captain Woodall came on the Tannoy saying all shore trips are cancelled, so I changed down to shirt and silk blouse and we went to the Pig hand in hand.  Gary, Nicola, James and two others joined us.  C. got a Columbia menu and we had a hilarious time choosing what we want in the cabin.  “We have two things against us!   1. There is no light and we’re both over 50!”  That made all howl and later I asked if the show was worth the price of admission.  More howls!

I returned to my cabin, C. slipping a $20 to Ben and our order. (In retrospect, I wonder if this was big Ben or little Ben, as these two guys were later called.)

We waited in the cabin watching television till the food came.  We settled in the sitting area, C. set up a tipsy table with his Arab head dress as a tablecloth, and we savored our beef and venison, tomato mousse, cake and petit fours – baked potato too.  Yum!

At one point we went on deck to see Monaco by night and noticed the screws were turning to keep us from dragging ashore in the swells.  Earlier we had gone on to the fo’castle deck to check on the launches.  They were still floating and waiting.

 The swells are HUGE!

Sunday, 5 April – Ville Franche:  hesitating.

What a night this was!!  About 70 passengers and crew were stranded in Monte Carlo because of the high waves, and were put up in hotels and delivered to the ship today at Ville Franche, France.   Meanwhile, the ship had left Monaco around one in the morning, but had to go slowly along the coast – halting to let the tenders catch up and eventually bring the passengers home.  This delay has caused us to arrive late in Malaga tomorrow alas, so our great day at Granada will be cancelled.

I saw C. briefly as Jason related his overnight story, then C. went to rest a bit because he had been serving bouillon to the home-comers and the weather is so rainy, there is little activity outside.  I went to the shops, which are very busy now and bought a scarf and T-shirt of the ’92 World Cruise.  I then went to the Princess Grill starboard bar to read a book overlooking dark grey sea.

I had lunch at Hamburger Heaven and briefly chatted with C.  We decided simply to walk around Malaga and eat lunch tomorrow so, after dessert alone, I cancelled my $88 tour.  I then attended Waldemar;s talk on Spain, then after a brief chat with Al and Peg Anderson, I attended the auction and bought $20 worth of tickets – and lost of course.

The aft deck is all cleared for the storm and the deck chairs are piled under the roof area.  The ship is rolling quite a bit, the most so far!

I went to the final World Cruise Society cocktail party.  C. stood with Elaine McKay, so I photographed both of them, C. in his Ritz suit!  The Queens Room was decorated with ice sculptures, tables in many places with all sorts of shrimp, caviar, wings, veggies and so on.  We were served champagne and orange juice.  A huge cake depicting the World map and the 1993 route was on display.  Captain Woodall spoke to us briefly, then I left.   Saw Manual, and Nicola spoke to me.  I then went to dinner and attended the cabaret performance, then to bed.

Monday, 6 April – Malaga, Spain.

I was on deck by 8:30.  We were passing by the Spanish shoreline with the high snow-clad Sierra Nevada Mountains behind the coastal range.  The sky was cloudy, by the time we hit Malaga, but the sun peeped through and was bright for our whole stay.  It was most interesting to see the tugs towing QE2 astern into the narrow harbor and then pushing her sideways into the outer dock.  I watched it all from the fantail.  For a moment C. scared me by saying his leave was cancelled because they couldn’t get into the harbor.  We were both relieved when we saw us go in – even if backwards!

We went off together after two o’clock, then took a taxi way up to the Parador-Gibralfaro, where we had a fabulous lunch overlooking all of Malaga.  You could see the bullring, the ship and harbor, and the Cathedral.  I had gazpacho and paella, plus three tiny crèmes caramels  

After lunch (6802 Pesetas) we walked through the lovely Spanish decorated restaurant and on down the very rugged path along the castle walls – very rocky and precarious with lovely panoramic views at every turn.  At the bottom we looked at the outside of the cathedral and then hired a horse and buggy back to the ship.  The driver stopped at the roundabout fountain to photograph us, then proceeded onward.  A Cunard tour bus passed at that moment!  Smiles and waves!

QE2 left the dock at 6:30 by being pulled sideways by two tugs aft and two forward.  We then went out on our own, heading west toward the Strait of Gibraltar, which we passed around ten o’clock.  I had stayed in my cabin through dinner, and ate the cold potato and some cheese and crackers.  All I could see when I went on windy, rainy deck, were lights of a town to the north with a three beam flashing lighthouse and to the south, a light-house single beam.  Lots of ships were going our way and others to port, heading East.  I retreated back to my cabin and went to bed, having retarded my clock.

Tuesday, 7 April – Lisbon, Portugal.

I was up on deck in time to see us go up the Tagus River past the Belem Tower and Monument to Henry the Navigator, the suspension bridge and the Tall monument and figure of Jesus- like the one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  I sat with Mary at breakfast.  I joined my morning tour shortly thereafter and spent the day seeing the local sights.

We returned around five o’clock and I rested a bit.  C. phoned, so I joined him as we watched the ship turn around and proceed under the bridge.   At six o’clock we went to the Pig, then to his cabin to see what he has packed.  I asked him to send me home, so he delivered me.  I bathed and hit the sack.

Wednesday, 8 April.

Tony Bennett did not perform last night because he wasn’t feeling well, and the ship was pitching and rolling anyway. His schedule to perform was shifted to this afternoon, causing the cancellation of the Talent Show.  Okay by me.  We had heavy seas, and I felt woosey anyway.  [This is not surprising since we are crossing the notorious Bay of Biscay!]  I slept and rested most of the morning, rising to attend the last bit of the Cunard World Club cocktail party.  I went to lunch with Mary.  While there, C.  came in and asked me to choose what we want from the evening menu.  He is cold but won’t put on a jacket.  I went to the taffrail and vocalized.  C. and a guest were there.  I did “Lorelei” for Alan, and then C. sang his naughty song for us.  At three o’clock he left to check the leave roster so I went with him to forward crew area.  August 23 – September 27.

I sat for thirty minutes or so on aft deck with Jason and Alan.  The sun came out. 

Sir James Saville of “Let Jimmy Fix It” fame on BBC gave his show tonight.  I watched it on channel 2.  C. took me to the Pig for the usual gathering.  James wasn’t there, but he had earlier come up from aft crew section to kiss me goodbye.  We eventually returned to my cabin and he ordered our special salmon dinner from Ben.  We watched “Henry V” till the feast arrived, and then watched “Fawlty Towers.”   When all was dark and I was ready to turn in for the night, I couldn’t get to sleep so I looked out my porthole and saw the crescent moon in the West and a relatively calm sea reflecting its light.   We are churning along.  I’m sorry it’s my last night.  What an incredible voyage, though.  Ten Countries and 11 Ports!  All these ports in the Med gave rise to calling QE2 the ferry!

 Thursday, 9 April – Southampton

I was awake very early and saw us entering the Solent – still dark.  Later I spied a red tug aft of my porthole.  We turned around and were docked by 6:30.  Breakfast in Columbia Restaurant, then had to wait a long till finally I disembarked on my own after ten o’clock.  I met C. long after that, and we went to the Red Star Parcels and Archers Hotel, since the Ambassador Hotel has been sold.  Farewell good ‘ole Queen Elizabeth 2.  You are the best!