This was my first time going out of the United States..I was ecstatic..and could not wait..this was going to be a life time experience..I was so excited..
I had never been to many places..oh I had gone to a few states and enjoyed them..and seeing the different homes..communities..and lifestyles..but this was a life time chance to travel and I was going to take full advantage of this opportunity..
I arrived in New York..where I have never been..the hurry..scurry of the people were abundant..and taking a Taxi to the boat dock's was an experience in itself..but on the way I saw the Empire State Building..the tall sky scrapers were magnificent..tall and proud they stood..and with the morning sun hitting the glass of some they shown like diamonds..the taxi driver went here and there and I am sure out of his way to get that little extra on his fare..it was all still strange and I was a little nervous..I had heard so much about the big cities and how they could be unsafe..but by and by I gave in to the lure of the new surroundings and just sat and enjoyed myself..but within time I was eventually here at the boat dock's..paying the cabby..I knew I could never carry all the luggage.. and ask if he could help..sure with a price for it..adding another two dollars to the far to get my luggage to the dock depot for transport to the ship..
There she stood in magnificent wonder..the S.S.United States..for her age and her class the ship still was a sight to see..her three stacks standing so tall and going onto the plank bridge..I was told that boarding would be another thirty minutes..not daring to go elsewhere for fear of missing this departure..I decided to sit and rest..and just see all those coming and going..my luggage nearby..a gentleman came by asking if I were to go on the ship I said yes..in showing him my ticket.. he gathered my luggage taking it to be stored in the luggage area..at least that was out of the way..
There were hundreds of people..saying their departing words..and I wished someone was there for me to to say good bye to..but under the circumstances I was alone..and knew I could handle this..the excitement had not yet subsided..and I could not wait to see my state room and get settled in..
Pier thirty eight was busy now..people getting ready for their trip of some destination..and the taxi's by dozens bringing those as I had done earlier.. I finally did board the ship..and a gentleman all dressed in sparkling dress whites of the day..ask if he could be of any assistance..getting directions to where my state room was..I chose to take the initiative and find my state room myself.. walking towards the staircase..and after getting my barrings..I found my state room...it was beautiful..beige tones..with light aqua and rose colores..and the portholes..two in the main room..was great for seeing out..the bed was a double bed..and it had a small sitting area..and a large bath..there was a cozy sitting area in it as well...the furnishing were good fabrics..and you could tell this was a well furnished state room..there was a bowl of fruit beautifully arranged..and a bottle of champagne compliments of the ship..along with a formal guide attire for parties..or gatherings and what would be proper in ware..and the hours of shops opened to buy or rent the apparel..Oh this was wonderful..I was so happy..and the goosebumps stood on my arms..Finally I was doing something I had always wanted to do..TRAVEL..
The great ship had twelve decks..honoring a crew of nearly 500 and possibly more..adding up to twenty five hundred and more for traveling..there were shops..sun deck cafe's..swimming pool's..elevators..anything you may want or need..this ship had it..and more..it was a city within itself..there were shops to see for special occasions..beauty salon's..jewelry shops..shoe shops..and the influence of different people running them..all friendly with a thought of a sale..to say the least this was intriguing...
My steward was a short stout gentleman named Ruel..of Spanish decent..always pleasant..and wanting to please..he would come in an wink of an eye if you rang the wall buzzer to his area..he was always very proper..and in his white jacket and black slacks he was almost always stiffly at attention if you called..it took me a day or two to really understand him and his broken english..but if I ever needed a thing he would be the one to find it for me..
The dinning room was fantastic..this had to be like the Titanic of those years gone by..very formal..and spotless..the staircase entering the area was huge..and all could see who entered..and as you were standing in the foyer of the staircase..you were escorted to you table..there was nothing you could do..it was all done for you..
Sitting at my table were two other ladies who were traveling aboard..one was an Air Force wife named Brenda with two lively little boys who were adorable..the other lady was called Nellie who was in the Israeli Army finding out this was a must for all there was no choice..everyone of age was drafted into the Army man or woman..Nellie was a very friendly girl and was madly in love with Jorg..a German..the young bavarian blond blue eyed man across to our table..of course he had not much interest in Nellie I was to find out later on our trip..but she never gave up in her pursuit..
Then there was Muhammad Moham from Pakistan..he was a quiet dark man..very striking in appearances..the normal beard of the tradition of the Muslum..dark black eyes..and raven black hair..he was actually very handsome..and spoke with a perfect english accent..having been schooled in England at Harvard..and last there was Walter Saline a Frenchman..so polished and well mannered..and above all so much fun..there was such a variety of people..and this made for different ideas..and wonderful stories from all of us..
Going up to the outer deck you could smell the fresh sea air..and wonder how many had traveled this very route you were now sailing on..the ship was so large and big that you never did feel you were moving..and all aboard had there daily routines..from walking to running in a slow pace to keeping up there daily exercises..or could go down below to the health rooms..
On the fourth day Walter ask if I would like to go to his villa with a few of those he had personally chosen to see his home..the ship would be in port for one full day..he was bringing back a new 1967 Thunderbird..and he was so use to traveling back and forth from France to New York he usually had a get together for all those he had made friends with during his voyages..So the next morning..Nellie..Jorg..and several others and myself left the ship for LaHare France..the trip was not a long one and in seeing the country side..it was wonderful to see these homes that I had only seen in films or in pictures..my French was nothing to be desired..so it sure was good that Walter was around..his home was a beautiful older villa right on the water..and you could see the S.S. United States sitting in port down below the rolling hills of the bay..there was wine..cheeses of all sorts..and beautiful tasting pastries..I have never to this day tasted anything as good..the trip was knowledgeable of how those live who have money as well as manners..and are loved by all..my thoughts today and throughout the years have been how is my dear Walter..over the years I wrote all..other than Jorg..he could never seem to stay in one place long enough to catch up with his mail..Muhammad eventually stayed in England and became a professor of English..Nellie finally stopped writing and I often times wondered if she had been hurt being in such conflict as happens in the area where she came from..Linda had two more children..and her hubby retired from the AirForce...and throughout the years I lost contact with her as well..above all those of us who had touched each others lives intertwined for eight days out to sea became close..the concern was there and we knew how we felt for the differences with each other and our own lifestyles..there were tears when we all departed for different countries..myself going on to Germany for several years..yet that is another story..
By Kyusha��1999
