Walking the Planks of the Tall Ships
Cherie, Sal, and I visited the San Diego Maritime Museum on a February
weekend. Two tall ships were visiting town, and they, as well as the
permanent exhibit of the Star of India, were open for viewing. If you like
things nautical, and don't mind the floor rocking under your feet, this is
the place to relive the glory of the sail and steam ships that plied the
Pacific.
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The museum consists of a three-deck 1890's-era railroad ferry that
plied San Francisco Bay; a small private steam and sail ship, circa 1920,
and the 3-masted sail boat dating back to the 1860's, The Star of India.
On this weekend, two other tall ships were in town and were also available
for viewing, with their helpful crews on board explaining the working of
the sails and other other nautical arts. |
The maiden figurehead on one of the ships' prows
leads the way over the rolling seas.
The navigator charted the course in the small chart room, where
not an inch of space was wasted.
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The visiting 2-masted ships stood
handsomely in the harbor, like time travelers from another era.
At right, a thoroughly modern maiden stood on deck amidst the
lines and sails. |
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Ship models in bottles and in glass cases, were so small, in some
instances, a magnifying glass was required to appreciate the details of
these works of art. |
| The port of San Diego, as viewed from below decks on the
Star of India. |
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| Stained glass windows adorned the ornate public
deck of the railroad ferry. |
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Dish cupboards are cleverly slotted to keep the dishes in place while
the decks roll in the waves. |
| A maze of pipes and valves dominates the steam room below
decks |
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Give us a jingle sometime, or if it's an emergency, ring our bell. The
communications system appears to be getting into the holiday
spirit. |
