Liner Lady

Saturday, April 16 – at Sea

I arose near nine o’clock and went to see Bob Doherty, then did some practicing in Midships Lounge.  I attended the lecture on the Caribbean area, then booked tours in Acapulco and Caracas.  Lunch came shortly afterward.  Joshed a bit with Guy.  Hampton has a new cabin and showed it to me (2122).  It is a single but large and with bath.  Dark paneling makes it look posh and more refined.  Oh yes, at ten I hailed C….  Yes, he fell asleep with his clothes on too and awoke at two o’clock to prepare for bed.  I said I forgive him. He called me again to say “the bed won again,” so I wished him a good nap.

I dressed in formal attire again for dinner and Hampton and I are still the only ones at our table!  I walked around Boat Deck seven or eight times, searching for stars and chatting with various people I met en route.  Spied Queen’s Grill, but hesitated to get C’s attention, since a superior was always visible too.  A knock on the door came later, and we had a little time together reviewing his trip and talking.

 Sunday, 17 April

What a beautiful day of warm weather and bright seas!   I went on deck and did my usual search for C.  While I was talking to some people by Queen’s Grill Lounge C. got my attention so we chatted by the door.  He looked so fresh and happy as we planned a sunning in the afternoon.  I went on my way aft on Boat Deck and found a spot by the Fantail pool where I read a while, swam in the pool there, then relaxed in the shade till lunch.  Stood in line with Paul and Patricia from Melbourne, and ate lunch in the buffet with them.  We had a nice table for 3 in a corner and we talked about our respective multi-national societies.  I stood and later basked in the sun on Boat Deck.  C.  came to sun with me for about an hour in which we talked endlessly.   He really liked listening to the tape of Scottish songs so I let him take it to listen on his own.  He really could be sacked for seeing me in passenger accommodations.  There is a “patrol” of sorts.  He and I walked down Stairway A to my deck and parted.

I watched a documentary on Placido Domingo, then prepared for the Captain’s Cocktail party.  When all decked out, I went up to join the very long reception line.  I gave up after a very long time and went to dinner.  Two ladies have been assigned to our table, Mary and Carol.  They are numerologists!   I then attended the piano concert in the Theatre.  My dinner was salad, Bordelaise soup, chicken Cordon Bleu and vanilla soufflé. Yum.

Around eleven C… knocked at the door and we went to the Pig.  Saw my usual friends, and as I was heading for Mark, I slipped and made a very ungraceful fall on the floor.  Much joking and concern ensued, not to mention embarrassment on my part. “Just call me Grace!!”  I stayed till 1:30 AM then went back to the cabin.

Monday, 18 April – Acapulco

I was up early in order to get the first launch for Acapulco.  The ride along the bay shore was spectacular with the horseshoe shoreline closing in all around and QE2 in the middle of it.  I took the bus tour 12 around the city to La Quebrada, where divers dive off a high cliff into the water below.  Then we went round the bay to a shopping center, up to a ritzy hotel resort, the Princess Hotel, which is like an Aztec pyramid.  There we were dropped to shop and view for thirty minutes.  We drove back via the coastal highway with sights of QE2 in the bay.  She looks so grand and majestic.

I met a gal named Louann and we ate lunch together in the Princess Grill, since Mauretania was closed and Columbia was full.  We acted quite giddy and tried to be sedate.  Finally we managed to settle down to grapefruit, yellow fettuccini, tomato sauce, then chicken and vegetables, followed by ice cream and chocolate sauce.  Princess Grill is very intimate with red décor and softer pink seat backs.  There are four statues depicting sea nymph types with mother of pearl skin, coral branch décor and other sea-related materials.  We sat side by side looking into the restaurant toward Acapulco’s shoreline.  Service was lovely and atmosphere peaceful.  We thoroughly enjoyed each other and sharing the experience.

After lunch I hailed C.  from Queen’s Grill and he came out all “sweaty.”  They too had overflows from Columbia and he was harried.  He went to his cabin to get money

for me to buy items and mail letters, since he would not be able to go ashore today.  Luann and I set out again in the launch, walked to the Post Office, then proceeded to the Flea Market.  I found most of C…’s requested items.  Mark greeted me and we walked part way back with him.  Louann wanted to duck into Sanborn’s so Mark went on.   We were back on board by five o’clock to relax.  I am glad this part is over!  I slept a bit after watching the departure from the harbor just as the sun was setting.  Again I was up front when the whistle blew.  What a glorious sound!

I ate most of my dinner alone again.  Hampton came late.  I had spinach soup, and tuna, and meringue and ice cream with chocolate sauce.  

 Tuesday, 19 April

I got up near nine o’clock, washed my hair, then stood on Boat Deck waiting for C.  Meanwhile, Hampton came strolling by so we chatted animatedly for a while.  Caught C’s eye and we waved.  Around 10:30 he got off work and we met by the deck door.  He was still very weary so we walked together down A stairway, and parted once more.

At present I am in the Theatre balcony waiting for Waldemar Hansen’s lecture on Martinique and St. Thomas.  I left the lecture a bit early to make contact at the entertainment office.  Bob Doherty wasn’t there but I left a note.  I returned to the cabin, got my curlers from Emma and put up my own hair to curl till lunch.  I ate alone in Columbia.  I practiced piano at Midships lounge briefly, then dashed to Bob Doherty’s office where we finally made contact.  He had the wrong cabin number all this time.  Fred Boaden (4225) will accompany me.  Went to look up C. , then, it being so very hot out, he stayed only briefly in my cabin, then went to nap again.   Left to my own resources, I went to see the Vincent Price movie, “Laura.”  He, by the way is on board and gave a lecture on villains. 

I took my bath in Hampton’s tub and prepared for dinner, with the thought in mind of crashing the Mauretania cocktail party.  This I did and got to see C. a little bit.  Met Paul and Patricia who invited me to join them.  Paul asked me to dance – a two-step I believe he said.  I then lost track of C. and went in to my Columbia Restaurant dinner.  We saw Mary and Carol, who still felt they weren’t assigned to our table.  I assured them no one else was there so they again joined Hampton and me.  I had shrimp cocktail and lobster tail again, followed by trifle for dessert.

I listened to Mozart symphonies and Bach organ works till C.  came to fetch me after eleven.  We went to the Pig for a while, but few of his buddies were there.  He sorted and decided on silver chains of Robert’s for his kids.  We went on to the bow (crew only) deck and enjoyed the soft tropical air and stars.   He kicked over his drink and it dripped onto my seat before I could get up.  What a mess!  I returned to my cabin before 2 AM.