Home  The All New Blog California: Waking up in LA, hire cars, Long Beach and The Queen Mary
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California: Waking up in LA, hire cars, Long Beach and The Queen Mary |
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Written by Stephen Baines
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Saturday, 12 June 1999 |
I woke up early in LA. Several times. The first time was at 2 in the morning, my body still convinced that it really was 10 in the morning. I took the opportunity to work out how to use the air conditioning properly, as the room was turning into an ice box. By 6 I'd woken up many, many times and decided that it was a bad job trying any longer, and got up.
The view of Los Angeles from my bedroom window is partly LAX airport, and part hotels and car lots. I did battle with the coffee machine - not that it really was going to matter as I felt thoroughly wide awake, but I suspected it may be very useful soon. Likewise, I did battle with the telephone point again, and persuaded the two to work together - at least the hotel provided a separate data point specifically for the purpose. CNN weather says it's going to be hot later today, and in the 70's this morning. Here's hoping it doesn't get too hot as the day goes on, as I'd be finding my way down to Long Beach and The Queen Mary.
Before worrying about the car, though, I had to sample the delights of American breakfast. I'd heard people tell me about American breakfasts and how big they are, but I wasn't quite prepared for exactly how big it was. A fixed $10 for as much as I could eat - bacon, sausages, eggs, bagels, fresh fruit, yoghurt, coffee by the gallon, fruit juice, more types of toast than I knew existed... Was it filling? Just a little... Some 9 hours later, with nothing else to eat, and no need to - it was the best $10 I've spent in ages.
The hotel bus ran me down to the airport to pick up the Hertz bus to drive me to the Hertz compound to pick up the hire car. I've never seen anything quite like it - I've seen the depots where they store new cars for manufacturers, but this place dwarfed those I've seen. Absolutely thousands of cars everywhere. I've never seen so many in one place. I've never seen a queue for cars quite the same as well, but with American efficiency I was dealt with very quickly, and was soon at the front of the queue.
Around the room were posters advertising the Neverlost feature available on some cars, and I decided it would be worth asking to see if it would save me battling with road maps and paper directions. "Sorry sir, it's not available on the Compact - if you upgrade to a better car it is available for $6 a day". Explain that this was fixed, and I couldn't upgrade - never mind, I'd struggle with maps. The lady asks for my driving licence - I hand over the new photo one (nice handy credit card size), and the accompanying sheet for motoring convictions, the piece of paper handily more than A4 size, and in my case totally blank. She stares at it in disbelief - "There are no points on this". I explain, yes that's right. I've not been convicted of anything. She stares again "You've been driving 10 years, right?". I agree, yes I have been. She gets on the phone. Suddenly I'm having images of being exported out of the country for some bizarre traffic offense that hasn't been recorded.
A few minutes later she returns... "We've got a Ford Taurus available that is needs to go back to San Jose anyway at some point. It's got the Neverlost on it, and is an F-class car, rather than an A-class car. If you'd like it, you can have it for no extra?". Would I like it? Cruising the freeways of California in a Ford Taurus, in British Racing Green? With all the extras. I decide to do her the favour, and drive it to San Jose for her.
I'm now out in the car lot, looking for the car. Section H, Row something, car something... Find it, gorgeous and beautiful, and get in. It then occurs to me that I'm sitting on the wrong side of the car, without a clue how to start the thing, or how to use an automatic gearbox. I spot a Hertz attendant and - in my best (and newly acquired) "BBC announcers voice" British accent explain that I'm rather stupid, and don't know how to use an automatic. He starts to laugh, and says they have a lot of that with the English, and would I like him to sit in with me and explain how to drive it around the car lot to get a bit used to it before hitting the streets. A quick 10 minute lesson later, and I'm able to stop and start less jerkily, and now feel ready to hit the streets of Los Angeles.
I exit the car lot very, very carefully, and having worked out how to program the Neverlost thingy, I set off for Long Beach... "Turn left, next junction" it tells me. Turn left? Turn left... Hmm, I'm on the wrong side of the car, and road, and now have to work this one out... Interesting... Clue! Cars on that side, remember not to drive into them, and go where the empty bit of road is! And off I head, and soon on the 405, heading south for Long Beach. I decided (intentionally - yeah, right!) to make a wrong turning to see what the Neverlost did, it soon had me back on the Interstate, and making my way for Long Beach.
I came into one of the harbours, and looked around for a little while, not quite believing the beautiful blue skies, and the palm trees, and the water being so blue. I then went on a little further, and followed the instructions barked out by my electronic passenger to get to The Queen Mary. Woah! What a sight. Nothing quite prepared me for the beauty of that ship. I'd seen pictures, yes, but in real life, it suddenly was upon me. I was gobsmacked.
I parked the car up, and now I had 2 hours to spend before I could check into The Queen Mary and find my room. I slapped on the factor 16, went around the outside and took photos, I then took a wander round the other side, and found The Scottish Heritage shop, Ye Olde England Bagel Shop (or something like that) and various mock English buildings, which I found very amusing. I then decided to take a wander the other way, to the green parkland beyond, and sit and take in the view. I could see the city of Long Beach on the other side of the water - me I was safe on the other side, in quiet and green surroundings, with this magnificent ship towering over everything around. She was far more impressive to me than any building I could see for miles around.
4pm came, and I made my way with my suitcases to the Queen Mary, and made my way up to the 3rd deck to check in. The sheer beauty of this magnificant ship hit me, it really is a magnificant sight. The wood panelling, the staircases, it was beyond all my expectations, which brings me to where I am now. In my cabin, starboard, overlooking the harbour with the most magnificant view. I'm in hogs heaven, and waiting to see what the rest of the ship looks like. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 September 2007 )
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