September 20 – Queen Mary, Busy day of Activities

First activity today is always a favorite.  They had a tour of the ship’s galley.  Paul decided to work so Mary went up about 15 minutes prior to start of the tour.  Plenty of time.  Not!  The line went from the restaurant door all the way back to the main lobby.  Very long.

However, once the tour started the line moved very steadily.  

Through the scullery area, the Garde Mange (Cold Larder) where all of the salads and appetizers and other cold foods are prepared, 

to an area where some of the hot foods are prepared and staged,

and finally to the pastry area where all of the desserts are prepared. 

They actually didn’t have many people out working but there was enough to get a feel for what is done at each station.  There was lots of stainless steel.

Shortly after the tour it was time for the Chocolate and Ice Sculpture event at the King’s Court buffet.  The anticipation was great and people started lining up early.

They only had a few ice sculptures

but there were a number of sculptures made of fruits and vegetables.

And there were a LOT of desserts, not all chocolate.  

They even had a chocolate fountain.  

The mob closed in with cameras to get photos and then fell to picking out lunch…many starting with dessert first.

Mary went to see a presentation/sing-a-long on George and Ira Gershwin and the Paul joined her and we listened to a presentation on the hunt for planets around other stars.

This evening we went to the headliner show featuring clarinetist Kenny Martyn.  He was exceptional.  He was joined by the ship’s orchestra and the show featured a clarinet trio with two of the orchestra’s members and the show ended with a rousing rendition of “When the Saints go Marching In”.