We have met so many interesting
people on our trips and this getaway was no different. When cruising we always
sign up to be at a table for 6 or 8 people – after all, Ed and I see each other
all the time, do we really want to eat by ourselves for 3 weeks? Yes, there is
always that fear of the unknown when you prepare to meet your tablemates for
the first time – sort of like the first day at a new school during lunch hour.
We had great tablemates on our Panama Canal cruise – would the same thing
happen again as we set out for Australia?
The answer is YES! A wonderful couple
from Cornwall, England (Janet and Dave), a young single guy from Germany (Dave), and a single man (Leonard) with
a great sense of humor from Switzerland. And even though they were worried
about getting a LOUD American couple at their table, Ed and I passed the test
and represented the USA very well. We all had a great time and often would meet
up during the long days at sea.
On our first day onboard Queen
Elizabeth, we went to tea and met a couple from Perth, Australia. They
encouraged us to join them at their favorite bar with their favorite bartender
so each night we headed to the Café Carinthia. Most nights we sat with Malcolm
and Helen and truly enjoyed their company. Helen had been and continued to
participate in a watercolor art class that was held each day we were at sea.
(they had embarked in Southampton and weren’t getting off until Singapore) I
was finally able to see some of her work and it was beautiful; and wouldn’t you
know it – she gave me one of her pictures on our last night together. I will
treasure the gift.
Once in Australia, we really didn’t
think about meeting folks that might make for any long-term relationship;
however it did happen – and it was quite fun the way it transpired. Our second
Australian excursion was a visit to the Taronga Zoo for a behind the scenes
tour with a zookeeper. There were two other couples in our group – one from
Alabama and they were both Coast Guard Helicopter Pilots (we enjoyed chatting
with them following the tour)—the other young couple was from Manchester,
England and we all got along very well.
The next evening, we headed for
our Bridge Climb and who do we find in our bridge climb group? The young couple
from Manchester, England. In chatting with them, we discovered that they are
also headed to Cairns the next day and are on our flight.
The following morning at the
airport, we find that same couple eating breakfast at the airport near our
gate. Once boarding the plane, they are seated one row behind us.
That evening, as we were checking
out a restaurant menu to decide if we’d like to eat, we hear a voice tell us
that the food is wonderful – who is it?
That same couple – Graham and Leah.
Thursday evening, after finishing
our dinner at a fish restaurant, we’re walking along the boardwalk where all the
restaurants are located, and sure enough, we stumble upon Graham and Leah once
more – so we sit down and chat for a bit!
We’re not sure who is stalking who at this point. I happened to ask them
this night whether they were married – not that it mattered – but I was just
curious if they were on their honeymoon; however, they informed me that NO, not
yet – not quite there yet.
On Friday, our last day in
Cairns, we received a message from Leah upon our return from our excursion,
inviting us to join them for drinks. Since we had stumbled upon each other so
many times it seemed appropriate for us to have a planned get together. We met
around 7:15 p.m. and shared our day with them. They had been to the Great Barrier
Reef that day and shared their bigger day with us – THEY HAD GOTTEN
ENGAGED! Graham had proposed to Leah at the
Great Barrier Reef! I was a bit embarrassed at that point since I had just asked
them about marriage the night before. As Graham kidded me – he said I gave him
the push to do it – ha-ha. But we were so blessed to share in their happiness
and we continued the fun by eating dinner together.
So YES, traveling to different
parts of the world is amazing and a blessing; but it’s also a blessing to be
able to meet so many amazing people and even exchange names with some so we can
continue our friendship into the future.
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