Long Beach, California

Denver Airport may be way out of the city on the high plains, but it is quite spectacular. A series of white pinnacles rise out of the flat land – they are meant to mimic the Rockies. To me, they also look like teepees. A train links the three concourses. I had not been to the “new” airport – the last few times I was in this area, I came and went either by car or train. It is snowing this morning, very fine snow, but snow all the same. They had to de-ice the plane’s wings. Quite a difference from the two 73 degrees we’ve had – but this is my last cold day until December 21st, Ha ha!!! I’m on my way to warmer weather! After a good flight, arrived in LAX where Paul (of Paul and Amy, World Cruisers) met me and we went off to Venice Beach for the afternoon. Lovely, sunny, warm day to stroll and talk….in a time warp! Psychedelic roach coaches, peace pins, tie-dyed everything, buskers, blond dreadlocks, panhandlers, wall art…..you name it.




Here is Paul with a new friend. Sorry, Amy, we missed you – but she doesn’t compare!!!!




We stopped in a café and talked politics and US history. Then we headed for Long Beach and the RMS Queen Mary, the original. It was so exciting to see her again after 54 years. Yikes! I am actually two cabins down from the one I occupied in 1954. Not that much has changed unless you count the monster plasma TV! The twin beds covered in lovely peach satin have been replaced with a king size bed and more dramatic, but ho-hum colors. No- dramatic and ho-hum is not an oxymoron!!! But the rest is all original…..so very 30’s. After I checked in, we had drinks in the Observation Bar – all art deco. Here we are:



Then, a delicious dinner at Sir Winston’s, which is set in the old Engineer’s Quarters on the sports Deck. The service was definitely “old Cunard”. I intend to explore the ship and video it on Saturday. Not all areas are open, but enough. It seems very dark, but that is because of all the wonderful wood, real wood, mostly burl walnut. Also one tends to compare to the current Cunard crop – all blond wood! But then one gets used to it and all the memories of incredible elegance come back. And there are still two more stunning grand pianos – in addition to the one going to Dubai on the QE2!