We sailed in to New York this morning. R and I got up at 5:00 a.m. and we had already passed under the Verrazano Bridge. We hurriedly threw on some clothes and went up on the main deck to see Lady Liberty and the New York skyline. Although we have done this before—come in to New York on Queen Mary—it’s still so exciting.
After the warm days and nights sailing up from Florida, it’s quite cold here. But sunny so it should warm up soon. What have I been doing with myself these past two days? Well, yesterday was another slightly nerve wracking COVID test—four tests in one week!!—but we heard nothing afterwards so I guess we tested negative again. I did ask the “tester” whether this would be an every-other-day occurrence going forward but he said he didn’t know. He said this one had been a requirement from the CDC, which has authority over US waters. Once we get into international waters, who knows? We are still going to continue to be careful though even if they do relax the masking rules.
Other than that, we’ve spent the past two days wandering around the ship, Richard drawing, me reading, both of us probably eating a bit too much ;) It was so warm and wonderful out on the deck yesterday that I actually had a chance to use the chaises on the deck! Watching the sea. Oh and I also saw some dolphins playing in the water. I’ve been living the kind of life you’d expect from a classic trip. Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant could stroll along the deck and I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s that kind of a dreamy time. There were very, very few people around so far. No children, probably because of Cunard’s rule that all passengers must be fully vaccinated. It makes it a very quiet cruise.
R and I discussed last night about whether it’s “elitist” to have a cruise like this. All of the staff who are taking care of us are from Philippines or perhaps Africa, the Islands. No whites except for quite senior staff (the head pastry chef is a white from Germany.) I don’t at all feel superior to the people who are taking care of us, I feel quite blessed and I try to treat them as I would anyone else. Still, yes, they ARE the ones taking care of ME. Difficult to write all this out, suffice to say that I don’t at all take our relationship for granted and I am very glad that Cunard has instituted a gratuity system that ensures that our cabin steward, Analyna, gets our gratuities directly and it’s a fair amount.
Speaking of Analyna, she is hovering outside, wanting to get into the cabin to tidy it up so I’ll take myself up to my regular spot on the sun deck.
A few hours later. After an amazing chocolate Easter extravaganza in the Kings Court buffet, I tried to walk a bit of the calories off on deck. Too cold and blowy after days of Arizona/Florida type warmth. But it’s lovely and sunny in New York anyway. I wish everyone could have such a happy and peaceful (especially peaceful) experience like this. Of all the crossings we have done, so far this is the one that I have felt most alive to that feeling of gratitude, of thanks. Not taking one minute for granted. Not feeling entitled at all, just extremely grateful.
Anyway, I guess that’s all there is to say for today. Posting a few more photos and then I will be offline for a couple of days until I have my next free Internet voucher.
I "get" your pondering over elitism, and whether activities we indulge in are, or are not elitist. For those of us who did not choose the circumstances of our births (I think that adds to 100%) it is a valid consideration. It's not always comfortable, what we discover "under there". I applaud that you even take the effort to write a few lines about it. It is better to consider than to deny, right? And do our best when we are in a position of "control" if you want to call it that, as either the paying customer, the boss in a workplace, the client, whatever... to treat people well and fairly.
ReplyDeleteHaving had the opportunity to work for a while in a plant in Italy, in the late 1980's, I observed that other than myself, an American, there was only one other female in a technical job. When I learned enough Italian to communicate with the other women there (secretaries, cooks, cleaning women), I asked them why not be a programmer or an engineer? "Italian men wouldn't like it", I was told. "But they don't have a problem with me", I said. "That's different, you're an American." Still, something to ponder, the whys of where we end up where we do.
Stretching our minds is good for us.
Your cruise sounds lovely. Soak up every moment of it, and whatever thoughts you may ponder about it, I'm sure you will also accept the joy that suce a world exists.