I often am surprised how experiences in life prove to be a series of fortuitous - though sometimes bizarre - connection of dots. This has proved to be so with the Normandie, the famous French Art Deco ocean liner of the 1930s.
First, a long time ago, I was given a Normandie luggage tag from some one who had actually sailed on her.
Along with the luggage tag was this news clipping from 1942 (?) - there is no date - of the Normandie tipped over in New York harbor.
Then years after that, I went to the library to pick up some books that I had ordered. This book was among them - though I had not ordered it up! It was was a library error of happenstance that proved to be wonderful.
Then, I was once at the Met to see another exhibit and stumbled upon the Normandie panels. A delightful and beautiful surprise.
Also on view are chairs from the grand dining room, silver, and other exquisite items to which one can pay homage.
Most recently, we were at a hotel on the coast of Rhode Island. After we had checked in, I asked the gentleman at the front desk to direct me to a specific place in the hotel. Ironically, this gentleman was French, and very kindly thought to escort me. As we approached a set of stairs, the walls were covered with ocean liner related art - among them the Normandie at the very top of the stairs.
"That is the Normandie! That ship was beautiful." I exclaimed as I went over for closer examination.
"Mais, oui!" he responded, and I flatter myself that he was delighted that I thought to comment. "There was no finer vessel," he added with obvious French pride.
Here are the two works that I saw.
Now recently - and this could be termed the bizarre dot - at Thanksgiving Mom invited some folks over from the senior center to share in our dual turkey celebration. Amongst them was a gentleman who was a bit of an ocean liner buff. He told me that there were films of the Normandie on YouTube. I had never thought to look.
Here is one of them to start.
Be sure to also watch Part 2 of the above and the dining room one. See how folks used to dress. On my last cruise ... well let's just say it was quite different.
First, a long time ago, I was given a Normandie luggage tag from some one who had actually sailed on her.
Along with the luggage tag was this news clipping from 1942 (?) - there is no date - of the Normandie tipped over in New York harbor.
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| A riveting story |
After that I ordered up this book.
| A great read. Check it out here. |
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| History of Navigation Panels at the Met in NYC |
Also on view are chairs from the grand dining room, silver, and other exquisite items to which one can pay homage.
Most recently, we were at a hotel on the coast of Rhode Island. After we had checked in, I asked the gentleman at the front desk to direct me to a specific place in the hotel. Ironically, this gentleman was French, and very kindly thought to escort me. As we approached a set of stairs, the walls were covered with ocean liner related art - among them the Normandie at the very top of the stairs.
"That is the Normandie! That ship was beautiful." I exclaimed as I went over for closer examination.
"Mais, oui!" he responded, and I flatter myself that he was delighted that I thought to comment. "There was no finer vessel," he added with obvious French pride.
Here are the two works that I saw.
Now recently - and this could be termed the bizarre dot - at Thanksgiving Mom invited some folks over from the senior center to share in our dual turkey celebration. Amongst them was a gentleman who was a bit of an ocean liner buff. He told me that there were films of the Normandie on YouTube. I had never thought to look.
Here is one of them to start.
Be sure to also watch Part 2 of the above and the dining room one. See how folks used to dress. On my last cruise ... well let's just say it was quite different.
