I hate to say on an open public forum, but recently l thought l was going mad. I visited the Hotel Queen Mary in Long Beach which coincided with the dates of my last ever crossing on QE2. Having tried to visit her for the past 22 years and getting side lined into taking a QE2 voyage, this was the year l made it.
Staying for two nights l took 3 friends along for the champagne brunch. From the moment l embarked on the gangway l was in cruise mode, Into the Sunday brunch and right away l was caught up in the whole atmosphere of the event, beneath my feet l could feel the vibrations of the air conditioning units and the old girl, to me came alive, or was it unlimited refills of bubbly... Anyway sitting down to the fresh crisp newly laid table and cloth napkins the sound of the singer and oh my god the songs he sang,for a moment l had to pinch myself, they were playing the songs that l used to hear on QE2 and as l cast my mind back to the previous year l was wrapped up in a special magic and as l had an emotional moment
my friends realised that l wasnt as tough as they thought, which l found highly amusing.
As the afternoon continued we ended out on the open decks at 4.45 and standing by the railings l really expected to see the ropes being let go and fully expected us to set sail for some where, and when the harsh reality of it all set in and that l was going nowhere, l really found that very hard to understand and even accept it.
For two nights l was enveloped in something so very special to me, l really had no idea what l expected to find onboard the old lady, but she took me into her care and really looked after me. (but that is another story)
When the final morning came and l woke up, Behold a sight l never expected to see ever again,and it was something l only ever associated with QE2 and that was under the door had been slipped my onboard account!!, well it really did floor me for a short time, mercifully it only ran to two pages.
Made the most of the last morning and for once l could linger over an onboard breakfast, and on the stroke of noon checked out and stepped gaily down the gangway and back into the real world. Feeling exactly the same way as l did when l stepped back on the gangway and terra firma after my first voyage on QE2 in 1986 l just know lm going back for more.
So much so l cancelled my next Cunard cruise......
** OLD DEAD LINK REMOVED **img5/5821/usatrip096.jpg[/img]
Cheers !!!
Compared to the usual MI grade, l was in for a surprise...
Topic: Something that's a reminder of QE2...? (Read 24046 times)
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