Well, after three three-course meals, high tea and the anticipation of our early arrival in New York City, we had an early night. We were due to pass under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at 5.45 a.m. (I misheard the name, so forevermore, it will be the Versace Bridge). The funnel has 12-foot clearance under the bridge and the measurements were all taken before the ship was built.
The girls were all primed; Tom would have his breakfast delivered by the butler at 6.00 a.m. The butler delivered it every day at 8.00 a.m. It was always laid out on a tray with an orchid spray in a little silver vase; he always served Tom which made us feel a bit superfluous, as all we had to do was make sure Tom was sitting up before he came in.
I woke up at 5.30 a.m.; it was barely light. I leapt out of bed and onto the verandah. Oh Noooooo! I missed it! The bridge was in the distance! Oh well, get the camera and start snapping. I took so many pictures I'm surprised a whale or dolphin didn't surface, thinking my clicks were a fellow creature calling. It was amazing how the light would change and the Manhattan skyline changed with it. We steamed up the river, then did an about turn and backed into the docks. All this time, two police launches and two NYPD helicopter's were circling the ship. They must have known there were VIPs on board (us).
These two pics were taken one after the other to create a panoramic view . . .
Land Ahoy
. . . and you can see that the light is different.
Again, two pics at same time just moving round by 90 degrees
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge behind us; the sun hasn't reached it yet
[The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island & Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay. Read more about it HERE]
Gianni Versace S.p.A, usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. Read more HERE].
These were taken one after the other; the sun is coming up behind the buildings and it's still almost dark behind us.
Daybreak over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
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