Category: Queen Mary 2

MARCH 31 – APRIL 2, AT SEA

APRIL 3 (Good Friday) – RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

After bidding farewell to the bucolic tranquility of St. Helena… we were subjected to fiery sermons on Rio, and the barbaric viciousness of the murderous thugs that skulk on every street corner. It was a record sales day for Cunard Shore Excursions, where even the most independent travelers (like ourselves) decided not to “play the odds”.

The most lucrative criminals don’t need a knife. They are the masterful “Pickers of Pockets”. Here’s a coveted scheme. Pass it on…

A congenial looking teenager steps in front of his Hawaiian Shirted target and picks up a dollar up from the sidewalk.

“Sir, you dropped this”, he says with a magnanimous smile.

“Why, thank you, young man”, the target exclaims, suitably surprised by this virtuous act.

Hawaiian Shirt questions why Rio has such a bad rap, as he slips the wayward bill into his left front pocket, reuniting it with numerous siblings.

15 minutes later, he reaches for the cash his wife needs to pay for the cheesy replica of “Christ The Redeemer”, she simply cannot live without, and discovers that the entire extended family of currency and credit cards has been liberated.

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6.5 million people live in the city and 5 million in the suburbs. 85% of the wealth is controlled by 5% of the residents. 70% of the people live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 37%. There are over 600 shanty towns that cling to the hillsides where thousands live in squalor. They are controlled by gangs. The muted report of gunshots echo through the sultry air.

The ship’s “Daily Programme” describes the Rio lifestyle as “a mixture of hedonism and irreverence. They appear to respect nothing and no one, and are constantly on the look out for something to provide them with a new diversion or pleasure. They see themselves as individuals of immense resourcefulness, of keen wit, of engaging conversation, of stunning beauty, and of worldly knowledge”.

Is this a twisted sales pitch or satire?

We took an excursion that covered two places we were keenly interested in visiting. First, was the float construction and costume making facility of a Samba School that participates in the annual Rio Carnival. This annual event is the most ostentatious spectacle your mind can envision. It makes the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade look like a kindergarten production. Over 5,000 dancers train at each of the 12 schools every year. Once the theme is decided on by a committee, it takes almost the full year to orchestrate. Thousands are employed during the process, most of which live in the slums. It is promoted as the festival where the “rich mingle with the poor”. Call me a skeptic, but I doubt that. Wear an expensive camera around your neck, and come visit in February to see it firsthand. You will be most welcomed.

We saw the remnants of an elaborate float that focused on futuristic technology and scientific advancement. Larger then life (but now deceased) Michael Jackson, festooned in a swanky space suit, and surrounded by silver dolphins, was chosen to represent these achievements. Is it me, or could there have been a more suitable choice? It was great fun to nibble on a slice of Rio’s cultural heritage.

Next, we headed to Sugar Loaf Mountain. A 1,300 foot high solid granite pillar with a gondola terminus bolted on top. It was first constructed in the late 1800‘s. From the crest, the views were spine tingling. In the valleys below, every inch of usable space is covered in concrete. We came here, instead of the loftier Corcovado Mountain, because it’s summit is habitually swathed in clouds. And, the legendary statue of Christ The Redeemer is undergoing maintenance and totally concealed. I thought this was awfully disrespectful, considering it was Good Friday and “The Queen’s” visit was scheduled more then 3 years in advance.

An unexpected wildlife sighting of tiny Marmoset monkeys was the zenith of my day. They lounged on scaffolding used for the unceasing repairs to the steep retaining walls holding up the platform we stood on. See the photo below of a baby fastened to Mama’s belly. Pretty cool, huh?

Back on board, we scanned the dilapidated buildings nearby through binoculars. We were disheartened to see so many people living in disintegrating structures, not fit for human life.

On our way to Barbados next.

 

APRIL 4-8, AT SEA

After leaving Rio De Janeiro, we had a lengthy stretch at sea along the eastern seaboard of South America then west towards the Caribbean Sea.

APRIL 9 – The Island of BARBADOS

Barbados stands alone, 100 miles east of the other islands you may think of when fantasizing about a vacation in “The Caribbean”. It is 14 miles wide and 21 miles long. The constant trade winds blow from the east-northeast across the Atlantic Ocean making it easy to reach under sail power from Europe, but nearly impossible from the other Caribbean islands (always upwind). It’s isolation offered effective immunization against the conflict between Caribbean colonial powers. Once colonized by England in 1625, it remained in British hands until granted independence in 1966.

The Caribbean Islands were named after the indigenous Caribe Indians. Barbados came from the Portuguese word, “Los Barbudos” (meaning bearded) which refers to the roots hanging down from the numerous Bearded Fig Trees on the island.

The first settlers brought tobacco and cotton from neighboring islands, but they didn’t grow well here. So, you guessed it, sugarcane was introduced. It is still a major export, along with the locally distilled “Mount Gay Rum”, the island’s claim to fame.

When we arrived in port, two huge cruise ships were already on the dock. They looked like floating bricks, wholly devoid of charm. Okay, I admit it, I’m a ship snob now. When we got clearance to disembark, we hustled to the rental car shack where our adorable “Mini Moke” (a doorless dune buggy perfect for driving on remote beaches and across rough terrain), was waiting for us. We were eager to explore the eastern (less populated) side of the island. As we stood in the long line bopping along to caribbean music, the skies blackened.

Upon seeing our distressed faces pointing skyward, a dreadlocked native said, “No worries, Mon, it hasn’t rained in two months”, as he sashayed by. Good, because we just overheard that everything is sold out, so making a switch to a stodgy “rain proof” ride is not an option.

Just after signing the rental agreement, Armageddon inspired rain exploded from the clouds, and did not stop. After two hours huddled under a leaky overhang, while staring wistfully at our water logged Mini Moke, we wondered if Noah’s Ark took reservations. Saturated and despondent, we trudged back to the shack to find out if a more suitable vehicle had miraculously materialized, before asking for a refund. It hadn’t. “No worries, my friend, I can give your money back”, he said without hesitation. We must have looked suitably pathetic. Lesson learned. Go mainstream, when you only have 7 hours to sightsee.

We headed back to the ship and licked our wounds until the rain slowed midday. In dry clothes, we headed to Bridgetown (the capital) on foot. We were pestered by empty taxis (is walking against the law?) and street vendors. The sidewalks were mobbed with the 10,000+ passengers in port. We didn’t last long.

On the way back, we saw a battered merchant (drug?) ship slide to the dock, bow to bow, with the Queen Mary. Layers of rust held her together. Frayed lines dangled over the side. Duct tape secured the anchor. Music blared from the Bridge.

Here name was Queen Latoya, so of course I couldn’t help myself…

“Hey”, I said to the guy unloading cargo. “It’s nice that the two Queens are being reunited, after such a long time, don’t ya think?”

It wasn’t that funny, but he laughed heartily, and for a long time. The sun glinted off his gold front teeth, and I saw that one had a Yin Yang symbol etched into it.

Yo Mon.

 

APRIL 10-11, AT SEA

After leaving Barbados we headed northwest towards the east coast of the United States.

APRIL 13, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

My fondest memories of “Ft. Liquordale” are from college. We came here every year for Spring Break and a brief respite from the blanket of snow in upstate New York. Hot Sun. Cold Beer. Cheap Motels.

We had no agenda today, and took the shuttle to the Galleria Mall as a step towards becoming reacquainted with our home country. It was the first time I fearlessly drank tap water in over 3 months. Oh a whim, we walked to the Doubletree Hotel and boarded a water taxi for a two hour trip along the busy canal system. The Chamber of Commerce calls it “The Venice of America”. Obviously, they’ve never been there.

The taxi was full of Queen Mary passengers from around the world. Our guide, Larry, (retired here from Laconia, New Hampshire – but still working to pay real estate taxes) entertained us along the way. He pointed out the mega mansions and yachts owned by celebrities (past and present ) as we motored along…

“Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball used to own that house.”
“OJ Simpson tried to buy that one last year, but the neighbors stopped him, somehow.
“The Yankee Candle people own that boat, called Paraffin. It’s 140 feet long.
“Sonny and Cher lived there a long time ago”. It just sold for 17 million.
“The famous TV Show, Miami Vice, was filmed in that house”.
“Remember the 6 Million Dollar Man? Lee Majors? He lives there.”
That’s Jane Fonda’s house. I think I see her, near the pool”.
“The taxes on that house are $340,000 a year”.

As I sat there, watching the mesmerized faces, I thought of the warped perception of America these foreigners would leave with. I wanted to suggest a taxi ride inland, about 15 miles, to see how the other 99.8% live.

Two more days at sea, in the North Atlantic Ocean we know and love, before arriving back in New York on April 15th. I hope we get some decent waves as a parting gift.

APRIL 13-14, AT SEA

The mighty North Atlantic took pity on Steve. Two potential days to produce just one, decent, Dramamine worthy undulation, and nothing. I’ve been robbed of a dramatic finale!

APRIL 15TH – NEW YORK CITY

We passed under the Verrazano Bridge heading towards our berth in Brooklyn at 4 AM this morning. It was pitch black and surprising mild as I stood on our balcony sipping tea (look out coffee beans, I’m comin’ home). I recalled the exact moment we passed under this structure on January 4th – 106 days ago. The temperature was hovering around zero with bone clattering winds. I was feverish with anticipation and numbed by the cold as I listened to the drone of cars whizzing by above my head.

The sky was brightening as the Captain swung the ship around and backed down the waterway. When the Statue of Liberty came into view, my face screwed up with a tangle of emotions and I started blubbering. This epic journey has come to an end! I felt oddly untethered and melancholy, while elated and relieved.

I tried to hold it together when bidding farewell to “the guys” in the dining room, but failed. I even put on mascara before our final breakfast, hoping the threat of “raccoon eyes” would stop the flow. It didn’t. We would miss our new friends. We saw pictures of wives and children. We told stories and celebrated milestones. We played tricks and shared jokes. We basked in communal laughter.

Only 400 passengers disembarked in New York, making for a delightfully “queue free” exit. We left the ship for the last time at 9 AM and headed into Manhattan. The mass exodus of 2,100 passengers happens in Southampton, England, seven wavy days from now. Most will attempt to fly home in planes dodging Icelandic ash after the the massive eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano .

We spent the afternoon weaving through Central Park as our bodies compensated for phantom waves. Onlookers steered clear of the loonies blathering about The Queen.

We stayed an extra day in Manhattan before picking up the rental car and heading home on April 17th. With keys in hand, Steve made a beeline to the passenger side before altering his course with a sheepish grin. He swears he did it on purpose… so he could delight in the panicked expression that bloomed across my face. Hooey.

 

We have been home for 5 days, and are adjusting to life on solid ground.  I haven’t careened into a wall for several hours. Most of our stuff is out of the bags and piled in loose mounds around the house, waiting for final disposition.

The stack of mail has become less intimidating. We are happy to be home and sleeping in our own comfy bed. Although I think Steve is secretly pining away for the Pillow Menu.

And, planning for and cooking meals is definitely too much reality, too soon.

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Oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface. Our frothy wake is long gone, but the magic it conjured up will stay with us forever.