10 Feb, 2018 Honolulu

Aloha!

We docked in downtown Honolulu this morning and I can't help but think everyone on board heaved a sigh of relief to be back on land again. We had 4 days of steady pitch, roll and shudder as we crossed the Pacific (what a misnomer!) We were traveling in and out of a cold front rolling down from the north Pacific with 42 knot winds and high seas. The Queen Elizabeth is a Vista class ship, and not known for handling rough seas well. Her older sister, the Queen Mary 2 is a real ocean liner and designed to sail through the North Atlantic without a single bounce. Unfortunately, she is the only ocean liner sailing today. All of the other ships at sea are cruise ships with variable ability to manage high seas.

All the movement on the ship lead to discussions about what it was like for our grandparents as they crossed the Atlantic. Imagine how difficult it was for them:

No stabilizers to reduce the side-to-side movement.

Steerage in the bowels of the ship with dormitory like bunk beds, if it was that comfortable.

Many had to bring their own food, and what did you bring for a voyage that could take over two weeks? Dry salami, crackers, dried fruit perhaps.

No air conditioning, and possibly no heat.

Poor ventilation and the odors of strange food and unwashed bodies, not to mention poor toilet conditions.

Sea sickeness and more contagious illnesses plagued them.

When they reached the United States, they were overjoyed to see the Statue of Liberty or signs of harbors in Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. But their trials were hardly over. They had to pass through immigration officials who may have been efficient, but hardly compassionate. Before going before immigration, they had to be checked by doctors to assure they were “fit” to enter the US. David's grandmother had a common eye condition, and the doctor put a large chalk x on the back of her coat. This doomed her to be returned to Europe, and if it wasn't for the kindness of another immigrant unknown to her, who brushed off the chalk, she would not have been allowed to stay.

I often think about my grandmother who arrived in the US without anything but her train fare from New York to Wisconsin. Somehow, volunteers from the Immigrant Aide Society, helped her get to the train station and board the correct train. As she sat in her seat, a man came through the car selling candy. She thought “This is the land of milk and honey, and they are giving away candy!” She raised her hand and took a box, but when he wanted money, she had none and had to return it to him. I think about her embarrassment and disappointment. She worked for cousins in Wisconsin. as what was probably an indentured servant, to pay for her passage.

Fortunately, we travel in comfort, and, despite the rocking and rolling, did not miss a meal! Thank goodness for Meclizine!

The activities on board kept us busy for 4 sea days. I've finished 5 books and am almost finished a needlepoint project. David and I manage a game of Hand and Foot almost everyday. At 4:15 on sea days, we can be found in the Golden Lion Pub for Trivia. We lost our young trivia team member when he disembarked in San Francisco. We have added two Aussies to our team, and are hoping for more Australian questions. A Wing and a Prayer has continued to be a bridesmaid, not a bride for the last 4 days, coming in second on 3 days and a shabby performance one day.

We had a great fish and chips lunch in the Golden Lion Pub with our good friends Lin and Bryan from the Lincoln area of England. It was replete with mushy peas and Heinz vinegar for the fish and the fries!

We had drinks before dinner on Thursday night with Malcolm and William from Wales. We met them at breakfast when they were seated next to us.

Our friends from Sarasota, Randell and Bobby boarded in San Francisco and we had drinks in their cabin last night before dinner. OY! Although they have the same size cabin, the neatness factor is amazing! It is making me re-think the arrangement of ours. We both are using magnets to ease the lack of storage factor, but somehow they did it better! We have magnets hanging from the ceiling that hold 30 pounds, and I am using them for my gowns. We have a map of the world with our route, and magnets for caps, purses invitations, certificates and announcements. Perhaps when I get it neater, I will add a photo. They also had a perfectly empty love seat, while ours has a box of snorkeling equipment and a camera backpack and assorted cameras and lenses. This may be hopeless!

Usually, our routine is drinks before dinner in the Cafe Carinthia with Lin and Bryan. It's great to catch up on the day. We usually meet at 7:30-7:45, and dinner is at 8:30.

I actually sent back my dinner last night. I'm not sure if it was the dish I chose or the fish, but I picked Baramundi and did not like the texture. I don't know if I mentioned earlier, but I am now a pescatarian, at least for the cruise. So far, I haven't missed meat at all.

We sail tonight for Bora Bora, arriving on the 15^th. We are repeating our snorkeling tour with Patrick, and have a group of friends onboard who are doing it with us. Thank you Evana for organizing it!

Unfortunately, although we walked all over Honolulu today, we have very few photos. All of David's great Chinatown photos disappeared into cyberspace! All that we have left are those taken after the discovered loss and those taken from the Aloha Tower. This is our third visit to Honolulu and we have seen all the major sights on tours before.

Off to rearrange magnets to make our cabin neater!

Aloha