The Dining Saloon, where meals are served for officers, crew and guests not wearing working clothes. This is the nicer of the two messes, and working clothes are of course not appropriate here.
The Dining Saloon seen from another angle. Wall decorations, plants and general decoration add to the room's atmosphere.
The ship's gymnasium, equipped with workout benches, weights, table tennis, rowing machines, fitness bikes, treadmill, tv, stereo etc. Enough to give you a bad conscience if you don't use it once in a while!
In the Engine Control Room, going through the systems on the Integrated Control System computers during my evening round. All part of the watch duties as an engineer.
After the eastbound crossing of the Pacific Ocean, we reached Long Beach, California in the late morning.
We berthed just in front of a fellow Maersk ship, the pan-max sized Maersk Gironde. Pan-max means that the ship has the maximum dimensions allowed for a ship wishing to pass through the Panama Canal. If you ever wondered why there are so many ships in the world with a length of around 293 meters and a beam of 32 meters, this is the reason. Sofie Maersk is a so called post-pan-max, meaning she is too large to use the Panama Canal.
Another Maersk ship on our other side, a former P & O Nedlloyd vessel. Maersk ships are very frequent guests in Long Beach.
Berthed in Long Beach, California. We arrived on a friday, and didn't leave until sunday evening, giving us three days in California. I was lucky to be able to go ashore two of the days.
Waiting at the gate during shore leave, I took a photo of the trucks that carry the many containers to and from the ships.
A taxi fare from the port to Long Beach city is around 20 dollars.
Looking back, past palm trees, at the Sofie Maersk on our way towards the city of Long Beach.
Down town Long Beach, California. We went ashore around 5 in the evening, but some places were luckily still open. We decided, however, to take the train to Los Angeles and Hollywood Boulevard, as this was a place we really wanted to see.
Waiting at the train station in Long Beach. Very nice, clean and streamlined, actually.
A first look down Hollywood Boulevard, early friday night, after a good hour's train ride. Magic place, with so many places to see!
A gathering of people surrounded some street performers who were dancing and playing music. This is a very common sight on Hollywood Boulevard, and along with all the neon lights adds to the special atmosphere of the place.
The world famous footprints, handprints and autographs of Hollywood celebrities in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Here I found Walter Matthau's, one of my favorite actors.
Late in the evening we sadly had to find our way back towards Long Beach and the ship, in order to catch the last train. This is one of the subway stations on Hollywood Boulevard. Very clean and tidy, and with streamlined train service.
A look inside the train towards Los Angeles Grand Central Station. Packed to the rim almost, with people having enjoyed a friday night in Hollywood.
Saturday morning and Long Beach, as seen from my cabin. I had engine watch duty all saturday, and couldn't go ashore, which was unlucky since I suddenly remembered that the Queen Mary was berthed somewhere close, and I really wanted to see the old ship. Fortunately, sunday afternoon I had time to go ashore again.
Having an interest in old ocean liners, visiting the Queen Mary had long been a dream of mine, so this was a very welcome opportunity for me and of course an easily chosen destination for the sunday shore leave.
Having just come on board at the promenade deck, I found the ship's old bell.
The promenade deck, oozing history, atmosphere and time gone by, yet still it was like stepping into the past. What an experience! This is where travellers for more than 30 years went for an evening stroll as the mighty liner crossed the Atlantic.
The boat deck of the Queen Mary, starboard side. Queen Mary was ordered in 1929 and entered service in 1936. It's been laid up in Long Beach since 1967.