{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"CHARDONNAY","home_page_url":"https://chardonnay.org","description":"CHARDONNAY","author":{"name":"CHARDONNAY"},"items":[{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/catchingup","html_content":"

Catching up

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/catchingup","title":"Catchingup","summary":"Catching up","date_modified":"2026-09-15T21:41:42Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/of-narrowboats-and-wheels","html_content":"

Our team of wayward travelers all arrived in at our rented house in Glasgow on Friday afternoon and we treated ourselves to fish and chips (and chicken and chips) from a very good local \"Chipper\" directly across the stre...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/of-narrowboats-and-wheels","title":"Of Narrowboats and Wheels","summary":"Our team of wayward travelers all arrived in at our rented house in Glasgow on Friday afternoon and we treated ourselves to fish and chips (and chicken and chips) from a very good local \"Chipper\" directly across the stre...","date_modified":"2026-09-03T14:02:20Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/arrival-in-southampton","html_content":"

We docked this morning just before 0600 and cleared immigration and customs with nothing to declare but our brilliance (thank you Mr. Wilde!, and if he didn't say he would have)... We opted for car service from the dock ...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/arrival-in-southampton","title":"Arrival in Southampton","summary":"We docked this morning just before 0600 and cleared immigration and customs with nothing to declare but our brilliance (thank you Mr. Wilde!, and if he didn't say he would have)... We opted for car service from the dock ...","date_modified":"2026-08-27T22:41:30Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/three-nights-in-london","html_content":"

After a week at sea we chose to reward ourselves with a private car service from Southampton to our London hotel in lieu of multiple cabs and a bus trip (it was worth it!) Arriving at the Hyde Park Hilton, we were blesse...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/three-nights-in-london","title":"Three Nights in London","summary":"After a week at sea we chose to reward ourselves with a private car service from Southampton to our London hotel in lieu of multiple cabs and a bus trip (it was worth it!) Arriving at the Hyde Park Hilton, we were blesse...","date_modified":"2026-08-27T22:38:45Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/our-last-meal-aboard","html_content":"

One of the enjoyable things on the QM2 is enjoying her \"pop up\" restaurants. They take some of the 7th deck dining room and set up a range of special dinners; we'd previously had a very good Italian and what we'd call As...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/our-last-meal-aboard","title":"Our Last Meal Aboard","summary":"One of the enjoyable things on the QM2 is enjoying her \"pop up\" restaurants. They take some of the 7th deck dining room and set up a range of special dinners; we'd previously had a very good Italian and what we'd call As...","date_modified":"2026-08-25T14:59:20Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/the-gala-and-the-kilt","html_content":"

Nice evening with a cocktails in the Chart Room, a good dinner of Venison (Freddi) and Duck (Scott) followed by wandering the among well liveried and masked guests enjoying one of the unique traditions of the Queen Mary ...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/the-gala-and-the-kilt","title":"The Gala and the Kilt","summary":"Nice evening with a cocktails in the Chart Room, a good dinner of Venison (Freddi) and Duck (Scott) followed by wandering the among well liveried and masked guests enjoying one of the unique traditions of the Queen Mary ...","date_modified":"2026-08-24T13:19:58Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/thar-she-blows","html_content":"

Looking out from our balcony I thought I saw a splash in the distance. It quickly became clear that a pair of whales were swimming with the ship, probably 50-75m to starboard and just aft of us. We followed the spouts (n...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/thar-she-blows","title":"Thar She Blows!","summary":"Looking out from our balcony I thought I saw a splash in the distance. It quickly became clear that a pair of whales were swimming with the ship, probably 50-75m to starboard and just aft of us. We followed the spouts (n...","date_modified":"2026-08-24T13:00:56Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/nearing-the-end-of-the-trip","html_content":"

Tomorrow will be our last day at sea, with a Tuesday 0700 local time arrival in Southampton planned and expected. Seas are as calm as they have been, winds have abated, the glass is rising, and the sun is breaking throug...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/nearing-the-end-of-the-trip","title":"Nearing the End of the Trip","summary":"Tomorrow will be our last day at sea, with a Tuesday 0700 local time arrival in Southampton planned and expected. Seas are as calm as they have been, winds have abated, the glass is rising, and the sun is breaking throug...","date_modified":"2026-08-23T11:42:40Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/flights-of-fancy-single-malt-whisky","html_content":"

Freddi here (Scott insisted I make at least one post). Whiskys (and even whiskeys) have always paired well with chocolate in both my opinion and every book on the subject I've read, and when I saw this Macallan and Choco...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/flights-of-fancy-single-malt-whisky","title":"Flights of Fancy (single malt whisky)","summary":"Freddi here (Scott insisted I make at least one post). Whiskys (and even whiskeys) have always paired well with chocolate in both my opinion and every book on the subject I've read, and when I saw this Macallan and Choco...","date_modified":"2026-08-22T23:14:43Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/a-bit-of-weather","html_content":"

The rain came today and with it came southerly winds of 35-45kts. We had been enjoying cool but gentle days of 16º-20º with some morning fog and gentle (<15kt) breezes. On the lookout platform 13 decks up the wind was si...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/a-bit-of-weather","title":"A Bit of Weather","summary":"The rain came today and with it came southerly winds of 35-45kts. We had been enjoying cool but gentle days of 16º-20º with some morning fog and gentle (<15kt) breezes. On the lookout platform 13 decks up the wind was si...","date_modified":"2026-08-22T22:12:41Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/wines-from-around-the-world","html_content":"

We had a wonderful wine tasting with a stunning pairing menu in the Verandah restaurant. The series, called \"Lunch and Learn\" was produced by the QM2's Exec Chef and the three primary sommeliers. We chose this event for ...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/wines-from-around-the-world","title":"Wines From Around the World!","summary":"We had a wonderful wine tasting with a stunning pairing menu in the Verandah restaurant. The series, called \"Lunch and Learn\" was produced by the QM2's Exec Chef and the three primary sommeliers. We chose this event for ...","date_modified":"2026-08-21T20:49:42Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/easter-egg-on-deck-2","html_content":"

Artists tend to have a good sense of humor. In the above relief there is an easter egg! Homer Simpson (yes, THAT HOMER SIMPSON) resides in the above image. I'm not sure this will come through with enough resolution so he...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/easter-egg-on-deck-2","title":"Easter Egg on Deck 2!","summary":"Artists tend to have a good sense of humor. In the above relief there is an easter egg! Homer Simpson (yes, THAT HOMER SIMPSON) resides in the above image. I'm not sure this will come through with enough resolution so he...","date_modified":"2026-08-21T20:32:21Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/for-my-occ-friends-a-bit-of-history","html_content":"

As a long time member of the Ocean Cruising Club and serving Port Officer for Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC (USA) I should have known this, but I didn't. There is a plaque in the case on Deck 2 from the Ocean Cruising...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/for-my-occ-friends-a-bit-of-history","title":"For my OCC Friends! A bit of History","summary":"As a long time member of the Ocean Cruising Club and serving Port Officer for Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC (USA) I should have known this, but I didn't. There is a plaque in the case on Deck 2 from the Ocean Cruising...","date_modified":"2026-08-21T20:15:48Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/food-lectures-and-calm-if-foggy-seas","html_content":"

We started the day with a facinating follow on lecture from yesterday's from Maryanne Fisher, a professor at St. Mary's College in Canada on the psychology of food. She has done significant research and publishing on sev...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/food-lectures-and-calm-if-foggy-seas","title":"Food Lectures and Calm if Foggy Seas","summary":"We started the day with a facinating follow on lecture from yesterday's from Maryanne Fisher, a professor at St. Mary's College in Canada on the psychology of food. She has done significant research and publishing on sev...","date_modified":"2026-08-20T18:25:32Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/lake-atlantic","html_content":"

As many of you know I spent a long time sailing these waters; summer is \"calm\" season while winter can be (and often is) a beast. We've had a touch of fog but the seas are as calm as can be and we're steaming past the Ma...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/lake-atlantic","title":"Lake Atlantic","summary":"As many of you know I spent a long time sailing these waters; summer is \"calm\" season while winter can be (and often is) a beast. We've had a touch of fog but the seas are as calm as can be and we're steaming past the Ma...","date_modified":"2026-08-19T15:58:36Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/track-our-location-on-marinetrafficcom","html_content":"

Nice dinner and winding down...We're in the middle of the image above (blue dot). Making 24hr a almost due east till we clear Nantucket and the Cape and turn onto a Great Circle route to the UK.

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/track-our-location-on-marinetrafficcom","title":"Track our Location on MarineTraffic.com","summary":"Nice dinner and winding down...We're in the middle of the image above (blue dot). Making 24hr a almost due east till we clear Nantucket and the Cape and turn onto a Great Circle route to the UK.","date_modified":"2026-08-19T03:02:07Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/all-aboard-underway","html_content":"

We boarded with minimal delay and just passed under the Verrazano Bridge on our way to Southampton; 7 restful days at sea arriving early in the morning of the 25th. With the narrowboat hire and the tall ship sail we have...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/all-aboard-underway","title":"All Aboard & Underway!","summary":"We boarded with minimal delay and just passed under the Verrazano Bridge on our way to Southampton; 7 restful days at sea arriving early in the morning of the 25th. With the narrowboat hire and the tall ship sail we have...","date_modified":"2026-08-18T22:14:27Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/diy-pancakes-anyone","html_content":"

Here is a 1st. I often see \"DIY\" waffle stations at hotel breakfasts; this was a \"DIY\" pancake maker. While I didn't try it several youngsters were at it non-stop. I have no idea if it made good pancakes but the fact tha...

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/diy-pancakes-anyone","title":"DIY Pancakes Anyone?","summary":"Here is a 1st. I often see \"DIY\" waffle stations at hotel breakfasts; this was a \"DIY\" pancake maker. While I didn't try it several youngsters were at it non-stop. I have no idea if it made good pancakes but the fact tha...","date_modified":"2026-08-18T14:26:05Z"},{"id":"https://chardonnay.org/f/starting-in-baltimore","html_content":"

On the AMTRAK #84 to NY... upon arrival we found our hotel and then a fun pub with great cocktail menu and bar food... if you're in the area check out Gowanus Gardens... https://www.gowanusgardensbk.com/

","url":"https://chardonnay.org/f/starting-in-baltimore","title":"Starting in Baltimore...","summary":"On the AMTRAK #84 to NY... upon arrival we found our hotel and then a fun pub with great cocktail menu and bar food... if you're in the area check out Gowanus Gardens... https://www.gowanusgardensbk.com/","date_modified":"2026-08-17T16:38:23Z"}]}