Early next week Bob and I will be flying east across the pond.
In Southampton, England we'll board Cunard's
Queen Victoria and sail away to the Baltic states and Russia.
New territory for me will be Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway,
and Germany, and a return visit to Russia with a two day visit to
St. Petersburg.
This means I will have sailed on three Cunard Line 'Queens' during
the past fifty years.
The original Queen Mary (Transatlantic - New York to Southampton - 1964)
Queen Elizabeth (Singapore to Dubai - 2012)
Queen Victoria (Southampton to Baltic States and Russia - 2014)
I wish I could have traversed the world during the Golden Age of ocean travel.
The accoutrements of journeying included pretty suitcases and hatboxes,
steamer trunks, sturdy leather Gladstone bags, butter-soft leather handbags.
Fitted coats, silk blouses, high heeled 'court' shoes, seamed lisle stockings,
a choker of real pearls, waved hair tucked under a soft mohair cloche hat,
and delicate buttoned kidskin gloves, all were de rigueur.
In those days elegance was paramount as ladies boarded
ocean liners to cross the pond or sail around the world.
Looking forward to a fabulous voyage and then a few days in England
visiting Bath with friends, then catching up with family in London.
My packing? You would think it was second nature by now but still
I'm making lists, choices, and a huge mess in the guest room where
clothing, footwear, accessories and toiletries cover every surface!
In the Golden Age of ocean travel maids and valets did all the packing,
didn't they?
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