You know, THAT cruise ship! The one that floated off the Pacific Coast of Mexico this week with no power, no hot water, and very little food. Everyone seemed to be talking about Splendor and her predicament which started with an engine fire -- late night talk show hosts, local and national news reporters, Facebook and Twitter. Apparently some folks from my neck o' the woods were on board, and local reporters rushed to interview them as soon as communication was restored.
The more I hea
rd about the ship and how the passengers were suffering with no air conditioning, no elevators, and for awhile, no flushing toilets, the more I thought about how it used to be to travel by ship. On one of our many trips to the east coast, the DH and I visited Plymouth Rock (definitely unimpressive) and saw the replica of the Mayflower. This was back in our pre-cruising days, but even then I remember being aghast at how small that ship was! I shuddered as I pictured dozens of people crowded into the small areas below deck, and enduring a voyage that lasted several weeks instead of days.Imagine being in close proximity all that time with screaming babies, whiny adults and sea-sickness? How in the world did they cook on those little wooden tubs? And I really don't want to think about the lack of sanitary facilities! UGH!
Like most Americans, somewhere down the line, my ancestors sailed to this country on a ship very much like the Mayflower. All I can say is, "Better THEM than ME!" Much as I like to think of myself as adventurous, I know that deep down I am not. If my ancestors had been more like me, they'd have probably stayed in Ireland and starved to death, so thank goodness they were brave (or perhaps foolhardy) enough to make that voyage.
As for me, happily I was not on THAT cruise ship, at least not this week. However, I am scheduled to cruise to Mexico on the Splendor in January. Let's hope they have all the issues resolved in the next two months!
Did your ancestors have to make a long sea voyage? Do you think you could make the same voyage? Or are you a wimp like Aunty?
Click to join loucinda_mcgary
6 comments:
Hola AC!
My great-great grandfather arrived in CA back in 1858 by ship. I don't even want to think about the conditions. My dad came by ship in 1949, third-class steerage. I need running water, a working toilet and my own room. Yes, I am a wimp!
p.s. You are right about Plymouth Rock. :)
Whoo Hoo I am glad you were not on The Splendor.
Yes My Great Great Grandmother sailed to Australia many many years ago my great grandmother was born when they docked in Tasmania not sure what year it was but I do know my grandmother was born in 1906 so a long time ago and me two I would not have like to travel under those conditions like Jen and you AC I really like my creature comforts LOL although i do love a good book written about those times that happens to be a romance LOL
Have Fun
Helen
LOL Pink!
You and I are the same kind of wimps. MUST have functioning toilet which means running water, and do NOT want to sleep in a 'bunk' house. UGH! Most of the complaints from the passengers on the Splendor were about the smells! I don't even wanna think about those. :-P
As for Plymouth Rock, it was so small! When I lived in Grass Valley I had bigger rocks in my front yard.
AC
Thanx Helen,
I'm VERY GLAD I wasn't on there too! ;-)
Back in the 1800s it took something like 5 weeks to cross the Atlantic. I can't imagine how long it took to get to Australia, but it was definitely MANY MONTHS! Your great-great Grandma was one tough woman!
AC
AC:
I was stuck in a primitive women's dormitory in the hills above Taipei during a typhoon for three days. No water or power, overflowing toilets..survived on shrimp flavored crackers and Taiwanese beer. My room was flooded with six inches of water and the cockroaches, the ones that could swim, did the 100m fly. The others just floated on top of the water in the room. And yes, the smells were the absolute worst.
OMG, Pink!!!
I LOATHE COCKROACHES!!! I'd have probably screamed my lungs out and died on the spot. Glad you survived to tell the tale, but I'm shuddering at the mere thought. :-P
AC
Post a Comment