December 31,
2019—January 1, 2020
Courtyard
Marriott
Long Beach,
California
Sun
56F-60s
December 31, 2019 FLL TO ATL TO LAX
The truck is
safely parked at the Wyndham for $10/day. The shuttle ride this morning to the
Fort Lauderdale airport was easy. Because TK has the Delta Airlines app, we
were able to check in and leave our luggage curbside. We also easily breezed through
security with our TSA pre-check cards—no shoes off, no removing my laptop or iPad.
TK did get stopped at security because of his knee and ankle surgeries/he has
lots of metal in him, but we expect that. The weather was good, the flight to
Atlanta on time, so in no time we were flying from Atlanta to LAX.
I love Delta
cookies. I planned to use my iPad this time, but this particular plane only had
plugs, not USB ports. I’m always learning.
Two dogs and
four babies traveled with us--full flights (199 people traveling to LA). The flight was uneventful, I finished my first
book (Tom Clancy’s Net Force: State of War), and we arrived in
Los Angeles by 3:15 p.m. PST. TK, the best trip planner ever, had arranged our van pick up at
the airport to the hotel-by the time we got our luggage the van had arrived.
What a delight
the driver was! He gave us some background on Long Beach, which he said locals
sometimes called “Wrong Beach” because there was not as much to do there (I imagine
night life). He also showed us the port of Los Angeles, the 2nd
largest in North America. There were hundreds and hundreds of freight
cars/cargo cars at the port, along with two Navy vessels (one was the USS Iowa) and the RMS Queen Mary.
At our hotel we
connected with our cruise friends Donna and Lawrence from Wisconsin. We
immediately decided to look for a restaurant in the port area, settling on Q Smokehouse. Our airline did not serve a meal,
just Cheez Its, so we were hungry!
Q Smokehouse, Long Beach, CA
Janie and TK look tired before dinner New Year's Eve
Lawrence and Donna sparkle-they flew in December 30.
After dinner
which was so so, we walked to a nearby area where there would be fireworks. By this
time it was almost 9 p.m., or midnight
in Erie/EST. Thankfully, the fireworks started at 9 p.m.!
Janie and Donna take advantage of a photo op prop!
Fireworks amidst the palm trees!
The harbor, across from our vantage point on
New Year's Eve 2020
Queen Mary in background
January 1, 2020 Queen Mary!
We were tired
last night! We are blessed that we are the age that we are (12 U.S. Presidents
have served during my lifetime), and we
can still travel and walk and have fun, even after midnight!
The four of us
made a joint decision to visit the Queen Mary today. The other alternative was the Rose Bowl parade, which begins at 7 a.m. in California. Hmmm. That would be a very early trip to Pasadena, find a spot, and so on. Donna and I did research this possibility before the trip and it seemed unlikely with all the advance planning needed.
TK ordered an uber (cost $6, he tipped another $5) and we arrived at the grand lady. Tickets for entry, a brief movie, and a tour were $30 for two with a veteran discount.
Lawrence and TK outside the Queen Mary
From the Queen Mary website: "On May 27, 1936, the Queen Mary departed from Southampton, England embarking on her maiden voyage. She boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and even a small hospital. The Queen Mary had set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, which the rich and famous considered as the only civilized way to travel. She quickly seized the hearts and imaginations of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, representing the spirit of an era known for its elegance, class and style.
"Since her retirement from the sea as an active liner in 1967, the Queen Mary has never been more popular as an iconic Southern California attraction, hotel, and venue for special events. The ship carried some 2.2 million passengers in peacetime and 810,000 military personnel in the Second World War, but here in Long Beach, an estimated 50 million people have visited. The day the ship was launched in 1934, a well-known English psychic, Lady Mable Fortiscue-Harrison would predict, 'The Queen Mary will know her greatest fame and popularity when she never sails another mile or carries another fare-paying passenger.” A compelling insight!'"
There was a big party New Year's Eve at the Queen Mary
First up for us was the
4 D movie. Since I was not thinking, I did not realize what 4 D was-wind, rain,
seat rumbles, and even a poke) Hungry again, we headed for the Promenade Café after
the movie for delicious burgers and great fries (TK had beer battered fish). We actually had lunch onboard the Queen Mary!!
Lawrence and Donna at lunch on the Queen Mary
Janie and TK
Other images from the Queen Mary---
A model of the Queen Mary
Two other models were the Normandie and the Lusitania
The promenade
Mural -- unicorns
Beautiful marble fireplace in a ballroom
Another ballroom
Janie and Donna near the shops on the Queen Mary
Mirror/Queen Mary
Another great Art Deco image
Travel Bureau for passengerswho wanted to
make further travel arrangements
at their destination
We spent about four hours aboard the beautiful Queen Mary, totally worth the visit. This time TK ordered a Lyft, which happened to be right there to pick us up/$7. Our driver said she called LOng Beach "Strong Beach!"
We walked to the nearby grocery store for Diet Pepsi for our departure tomorrow. We had a very good New Year's Day!
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