Miscellaneous Favourites
All of my blog posts have had some theme or story, and that means often leaving out
some nice pictures that didn't fit in. Here's a collection of my best from the trip that
often haven't appeared elsewhere.
To see a 'screen-sized' (1024x768) version of a photo, click
on the thumbnail photo. To see the much-larger original file, click on the JPG file name above the thumbnail.
- cf_rescue.jpg
A closeup of the Canadian Forces Search and Rescue aircraft that buzzed us at a startling altitude of 100m or so, a few times, on the first day out. My policy of carrying my camera everywhere finally paid off.
- MTN_dome1.jpg
For the Unix guys that I wrote about my Internet troubles. This is the "MTN" (Maritime Telecommunications Network) dome that contains the dish that (mostly) tracks a satellite.
- italia_blue.jpg
I've never mentioned the free nightly live shows, often by the "Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers" that really put on impressive 45 minute shows most nights.
- apassionata3.jpg
One of the remarkable tricks is the multiple costume changes per show.
- apassionata5.jpg
This is from the same show as the previous slide - and taken perhaps 5 minutes later.
- bill_bryson.jpg
Another pastime, for the day, is the lectures that run every day in the other theatre (also a movie theater), "Illuminations". Mostly, these are
by eminent but not well-known lecturers, say the astronomy professor this morning at 11 AM, on measuring starlight. Following him, though, was somebody fairly famous. A-list, 10-million-selling author, Bill Bryson. I'm a huge fan, and getting to ask him a question after was really cool.
- kings_deserts.jpg
And then there's the food. This is part of the dessert buffet that's there 7x24 at the "Kings Court" area on deck 7 - pop by absolutely any time, and they'll have salads, sandwiches, several hot dishes, and always these. They aren't the exquisite artworks that are served with supper in the restaurants, of course, "merely" good pastries...
- choc_death.jpg
When they want to impress, it looks more like this "Death by Chocolate" display they put on one day as part of the better show they do at tea-time. Click the filename for the full-size file and zoom in a bit. That's a fresh ice sculpture in back, and the front sculptures are in pure chocolate.
- chefs_galley.jpg
The Britannia Room suppers are all a 5-star restaurant: fancy dress, top cuisine. But the little restaurants on deck 7 actually make it pale in comparison. They're still 'free' save for drinks, the trick is reserving in the morning. The best experience so far was tonight, when we finally went to "The Chefs Galley" that is always booked as it only holds about 25 people,
barely 1% of the passengers. You get a cooking demonstration of how your meal was made, and a longish chat with the chef later, as you're eating dessert.
This guy was a "Saucier" (sauce specialist) in Monte Carlo for 5 years before he
got the job with Cunard. I can't describe the gravy he made for the beef tenderloin; only that his description of how it takes 9-12 hours to do an
adequate job of it, is completely clear once you taste it.
- lib_anathem.jpg
Much of my time on the vacation has allowed me to catch up my reading, reduced the pile of books I've built up. I can't say enough about Neal Stephenson's 890-pp "Anathem", shown here in one of the truly great places on Earth to read: the QM2 library seats that allow your background to be the ever-changing view of the sea ahead, 25 metres below.
- lib_behind.jpg
This shot shows one of the library's four aisles, it's just the same picture taken from a dozen-odd paces behind the chair.
- sunrise1.jpg
Every vacation comes with a one-best sunrise or sunset shot. This one just in mid-Atlantic, on awakening in the cabin on the way over. I woke up when the light hit my eyes, stretched, saw this sight, and immediately fumbled for my camera.
- why_men_fight.jpg
And this is my favourite picture of Connie. Not the most in focus or best-lit, I suppose, it was just in the stairwell on the way down to supper. It's Connie that looked just wonderful, between the dress, the pose, and the look. My title for the file says it all.
A closeup of the Canadian Forces Search and Rescue aircraft that buzzed us at a startling altitude of 100m or so, a few times, on the first day out. My policy of carrying my camera everywhere finally paid off. 
For the Unix guys that I wrote about my Internet troubles. This is the "MTN" (Maritime Telecommunications Network) dome that contains the dish that (mostly) tracks a satellite. 
I've never mentioned the free nightly live shows, often by the "Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers" that really put on impressive 45 minute shows most nights. 
One of the remarkable tricks is the multiple costume changes per show. 
This is from the same show as the previous slide - and taken perhaps 5 minutes later. 
Another pastime, for the day, is the lectures that run every day in the other theatre (also a movie theater), "Illuminations". Mostly, these are
by eminent but not well-known lecturers, say the astronomy professor this morning at 11 AM, on measuring starlight. Following him, though, was somebody fairly famous. A-list, 10-million-selling author, Bill Bryson. I'm a huge fan, and getting to ask him a question after was really cool.
And then there's the food. This is part of the dessert buffet that's there 7x24 at the "Kings Court" area on deck 7 - pop by absolutely any time, and they'll have salads, sandwiches, several hot dishes, and always these. They aren't the exquisite artworks that are served with supper in the restaurants, of course, "merely" good pastries... 
When they want to impress, it looks more like this "Death by Chocolate" display they put on one day as part of the better show they do at tea-time. Click the filename for the full-size file and zoom in a bit. That's a fresh ice sculpture in back, and the front sculptures are in pure chocolate. 
The Britannia Room suppers are all a 5-star restaurant: fancy dress, top cuisine. But the little restaurants on deck 7 actually make it pale in comparison. They're still 'free' save for drinks, the trick is reserving in the morning. The best experience so far was tonight, when we finally went to "The Chefs Galley" that is always booked as it only holds about 25 people,
barely 1% of the passengers. You get a cooking demonstration of how your meal was made, and a longish chat with the chef later, as you're eating dessert.
This guy was a "Saucier" (sauce specialist) in Monte Carlo for 5 years before he
got the job with Cunard. I can't describe the gravy he made for the beef tenderloin; only that his description of how it takes 9-12 hours to do an
adequate job of it, is completely clear once you taste it.
Much of my time on the vacation has allowed me to catch up my reading, reduced the pile of books I've built up. I can't say enough about Neal Stephenson's 890-pp "Anathem", shown here in one of the truly great places on Earth to read: the QM2 library seats that allow your background to be the ever-changing view of the sea ahead, 25 metres below. 
This shot shows one of the library's four aisles, it's just the same picture taken from a dozen-odd paces behind the chair. 
Every vacation comes with a one-best sunrise or sunset shot. This one just in mid-Atlantic, on awakening in the cabin on the way over. I woke up when the light hit my eyes, stretched, saw this sight, and immediately fumbled for my camera. 
And this is my favourite picture of Connie. Not the most in focus or best-lit, I suppose, it was just in the stairwell on the way down to supper. It's Connie that looked just wonderful, between the dress, the pose, and the look. My title for the file says it all.