August 31 Santa Barbara, CA

Surprisingly the train got into Los Angeles an hour and ten minutes early so we had a little time to explore around Union Station.

We took a stroll along Olvera Street which, although closed at 8 am on a Sunday (go figure), was really nice.  We will have to go back again when it is open.  Their website describes this street as:

Olvera Street, known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles,” is a Mexican Marketplace that recreates a romantic “Old Los Angeles” with a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined market with old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, cafes, restaurants and gift shops.  Olvera Street was created in 1930 “to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California."  Many of the merchants on Olvera Street today are descended from the original vendors. 

Small shops on Olvera Street 

 Mural on the wall of the Mexican Consulate

By the time we got back on the train we were most impatient to get home but it was really lovely coming along the coast, checking out the campsites and reminiscing about times we spent in each campsite.  Pulling into Santa Barbara we saw a couple of people we knew and when we got off the train we had a wonderful surprise to find a group of friends to welcome us home!  What a treat!!

So now the 86 day adventure has finished and we’ve had an incredible experience!  Still, it's terrific to be home.

I think Liliana was glad to see us - she didn't run away and hide when we came in!!

 And amazingly, our luggage beat us to Santa Barbara as the bags were put on the earlier train we could have taken since we got in early. We decided to stay with the train we were booked on as we had arranged to have a friend pick us up - incredible.

Sending love R/P

August 30 Flagstaff AZ

Can't believe how well we slept considering the rocking and rolling we were doing.  By early evening yesterday we were an hour and a half late primarily because two people got kicked off the train.  We think one was for smoking but don't know about the other one.

By 6 am this morning we had made up the time and were on schedule.  Let's hope it lasts through tomorrow morning.

This train from Chicago to Los Angeles travels 2265 miles in approximately 40 hours, so an average speed of 56 mph.

Very relaxing day today watching the changing scenery while listening to music, stories and podcasts.

Looking forward to getting home tomorrow although it's going to feel funny having to cook and clean again <grin>.

August 29 Kansas City, MO

We just made it by the skin of our teeth!

Our plan was to see three things on our 5 hour layover in Chicago.

Exchequer Pub.  Listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die.

Famous rocks of the Tribune Tower.

Millennium Park.

The train from New York was 5 hours late so we literally went from one train to the other. 

Here we are now on the Southwest Chief, settled in for the next 40 hours until we reach Los Angeles.  We have a bet on when our luggage will arrive in Santa Barbara.

August 28 Utica NY

Very quiet day today.  Didn't actually leave the hotel until 11 and then went directly to Penn Station.

We checked bags through to Santa Barbara so let's see if they get there when we do.

We did have a walk around the area and lunch but then spent a couple of hours in the Club Acela.  And now we're off to Chicago.

Bed time will be in Utica.

August 27 New York

It is definitely August in New York – hot, hazy and humid; 90 degrees this afternoon!

We lucked out getting off the ship.  We were scheduled to be at our disembarkation station at 10:30 so just before 10 we decided to start wandering in that direction.  A staff person we passed asked if we wanted to leave the ship and said we could leave now.  We got to the luggage area and it took us a couple of minutes of pick up our luggage and then we joined the line (at least a 30 minute wait) for customs and immigration.  One of the staff saw our American passports and directed us to another line – we were through and outside within 5 minutes!!  Too cool.  Here are a couple of photos taken before we got off the ship.

Statue of Liberty 

Manhattan skyline

It was 11 am when we got to the hotel to store our luggage and we won’t even talk about the heart stopping taxi ride.  I think you must be crazy to be a taxi driver in New York, there is no other explanation for the risks taken.

We took the subway down to the 9/11 memorial and it was quite an experience.  Although we took photos, they can’t translate the impact when looking at the memorial fountains.  All around the two fountains are the names of the people who perished in each tower as well as those who perished at the Pentagon and Flight 77 in Pennsylvania.  We had tickets to go to the museum before we went to England but because of the train snafu we missed the opportunity and we would have needed another reservation which was not possible so we didn’t go through the museum.

Then we walked down Wall Street.  When we reached the Cipriani Ballroom the cheerleaders from the NY Jets had some sort of event going on and there was a drum band playing - too fun!

Wall Street

We then had a stroll along the East River – boy, there’s a whole lot of activity going on there!

By that time, we were pretty much melted so got on the subway to get back to the hotel.  The first train we got on had a toddler who was freaking out with the movement so we got off the train to wait for the next one.  Big mistake.  The next train had no air conditioning so we were basically in a sauna which was no fun at all.

Norm remembered the street vendor we got dinner from when we were here before so he went out and brought in the same dinner and it was wonderful.

Sending love R/P

August 26 North Atlantic

Our last day and night on the Queen Mary 2 and it’s even more gorgeous today than it was yesterday.  Everyone is out in force enjoying the weather.  It’s a day for dolphins and whales and we’ve had quite the show all day.

Southeast of Nantucket Island

 

Last day on board

 Last day on board

Our last dinner in the Britannia Restaurant

Tomorrow we arrive in New York where we’ll spend 1-1/2 days before boarding the train for Chicago-Los Angeles-Santa Barbara.

Sending love R/P

August 25 North Atlantic

Gorgeous day today; blue skies, sunshine and 66 degrees.  Add to that “negligible” seas and it was all grand.

We’ve done our quizzes and we’re getting better.  It must be all those British quiz shows we’ve been watching!  On the way over we really sucked!  We’ve seen our planetarium shows in Illuminations, a guest talent show and a dance extravaganza in the Royal Court Theater.  Tonight was also the Masquerade Ball in the Queens Room. 

Today was a day to see dolphins and keep an eye out for whales.  And early this evening we passed by Sable Island on our way south.

One thing we’ve found remarkable is the number of people on board who are just doing a round trip; some from Southampton and some from New York.  They just love the Atlantic crossing part!

 Container ship that crossed the ocean right behind us

We had some heart-stopping minutes this evening.  We had just ordered dinner in the dining room when the bell went off and the “Crew alert.  Please report to your emergency stations.” announcement came on.  All the staff in the dining room walked very quickly out of the room and a couple of minutes later I could see the crew walking quickly in the upper corridor with their life jackets on.  About 10 minutes later the bell went off again and you could have heard a pin drop in that dining room as everyone was completely silent.  The captain announced that there had been a chemical leak in one of the engine rooms that was producing a noxious gas.  They were going to contain the leak and make sure everyone was accounted for before allowing the crew to step down from their emergency stations.  He said there was no danger to the ship or the passengers.  It took another 20 minutes before the crew was released and came back to their stations.  Whew!  Scary few minutes.

Sending love R/P