QM2 arrived right on schedule, early on the 28th. Since I (alone amongst the passengers) could handle my own luggage, I had leave to disembark as soon as the gangway was rigged. Taxis were lined up waiting; one whisked me to the train station. The train was standing by, I boarded and we were off through the green, green countryside.
Arrived at Waterloo Station, London, crossed the street to the Union Jack Club. The front desk said I could check in early, which was very fortunate. I hadn’t slept well the night before, a combination of pre-disembarkation jitters and the couple in the adjoining stateroom having an unhealthy amount of sex. So…I went immediately to bed.
I should mention that the Union Jack Club is a private club, membership limited to enlisted members of the UK military. I got to stay because I’m a member of the Marines Memorial Association in San Francisco…we have reciprocal privileges. It is not fancy, but its clean and nice, with its own bar and restaurant. It’s location is ideal for exploring London.
On my first 5-mile stroll through London, I visited Covent Gardens. There are no gardens at all! It’s a shopping mall. Interesting, though, and worth a visit. I lunched at the Punch and Judy, where the puppet concept was born.I visited the Transport Museum and was awe-struck by the number of people swarming the place. I could see that reviewing the historical development of public transit would interest wonky nerds, but I had no idea that all of the British are wonky nerds!Check out this traditional London black cab! Only vehicle in the world purpose-built as a cab! Here, the toddler is reviewing the finer points of design and construction with its parents. Mastery of these critical concepts is required for entry to kindergarten.Although not in the Transport Museum, this curious object was found on a nearby street. The explanatory signs were basically word salad, making no sense. “Operator calls” “Dial tone” “20p” Archeologists from Kings College London are puzzling it out.
Addendum to the New York post: Prior to my visit, I did not realize that New Yorkers are fond of dressing in antique clothing. Several, perhaps many, of the men walk the streets in old-fashioned “suits,” complete with colorful streamers tied around their necks! Just like in the olden days! I asked one if he was a docent illustrating New York of yesteryear; he became huffy and inarticulate. There are several antiquarian shops selling various articles of clothing from that era.
Brooklyn, NY, to Southampton, UK, on the Queen Mary 2 is what I imagine a magic carpet ride would be. Smooth, Serene, Leisurely. My stateroom was twice the size of my earlier crossing, five years ago. My long-time friends, Merrill & Gennaro, had a stateroom twice the size of mine! Even larger quarters are available. For a hefty price.
I lost two ping-pong tournaments here. Only one was my fault, as it was a singles tournament. The second was doubles and I blame my so-called “partner.” Met some nice teenagers, though, from Canada and SoCal. The SoCal kid and I liked to make fun of the British. Did you know they apologize for scoring points? They do. They also apologize for winning. Peculiar!One of the many lounges aboard QM2. Someone seems to have left a martini laying around.This is not an abstract sculpture. These fins are, in fact, actually spare propellor blades QM2 carries around, in case some get damaged by running aground. Not an inspiring vote of confidence in the captain.Pretty art pieces adorn the stairwells of QM2.
ennui [Fr. ennui, OF. enui, L. in odio] The feeling of mental weariness and dissatisfaction produced by a want of occupation , or by lack of interest in the present surroundings or employments.
Now I know why the French invented the word “ennui.” It is used to describe the barely bearable tedium of a 4-hour ground delay at SFO, waiting for a flight to Newark. Some scaredy-cat bigwig was frightened of commonplace thunderstorms and, so, we waited. None of the flights to neighboring airports were delayed, so I took it personally.
Alaska Airlines breakfast served as a mid-afternoon snack. Surprisingly hot and flavorful.
The traffic at the Newark Airport was hilariously chaotic. I now understand why auto makers still put horns in cars. It’s for the New Yorkers. They love honking horns almost as much as they love ignoring others honking their horns!
One good thing about arriving in the middle of the night, is the wide open road, once you get out of the airport. A brisk Lyft ride and I was in Manhattan, staying at the Yale Club, across the street from Grand Central Station.
The Yale Club common room. Portraits of famous alum adorn the walls (Presidents Taft, Clinton, Both Bushes). Sotomayor is relegated to the stairwell.Grand Central Station. New Yorkers are fond of train rides and take many of them. It’s a magical building; outside, no trains. Go inside, dozens of trains! Incredible!
New Yorkers. One wonders if they are aware of the enormity of their self-parody. Everyone is O! So Busy! Rushing around with their street faces on, unsmiling, frowning, perpetually irritated. Many of them (stupidly) wander the perilous, crowded streets with headphones or ear buds installed. Amazing!
Walgreens in NYC keeps practically everything behind locked plexiglass. Not just high value items, like in normal Walgreens. That means you have to ring for a clerk when you want something. They provide efficient and effective service in the traditional harsh and brusque manner. Also, only in NYC can the request “One shopping bag, please” be said as a soul-scorching insult.
I toured United Nations Headquarters; it looks just like all the pictures you’ve seen. I didn’t realize the extent of their art collection. My tour group was a mini-UN itself, comprising people from all over the world. The Secretary General walked by our group and bade us “Good morning!”
The Secretary General draws a breath so he can greet us.
One of many large tapestries, this one made in memory of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.A close-up showing the detail of the tapestry.A display of the critical parts a of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.One of the panels from the display.
