Photos: HMS Surprise, 6/17/2007
Jun. 18th, 2007 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
artyartieLast night, walking home to get the mail, I nearly did a little dance. I had walked on the decks of the Surprise that morning! Sat where Stephen sulked, caught a glance of Killick's precious kitchen implements, leaned over the side in vain to find the seat of ease. The crew must have wondered at my geeky grin, especially seated at the stern, but I imagine they're used to it. My family didn't come with me - at one point, it was a possible punishment for my brother to come with me - but I saw many other families, including a father, teaching his wide-eyed daughter about the Battle of Trafalgar (they have a diorama of the battle on the gun deck). I was so touched by this scene, and being my natural effluvious self when it comes to all things naval, I had to chime in - I hope they weren't too startled. And while the lower decks does host the 'Pirates of the Pacific' exhibit, and hence the somewhat gawdy captain's cabin, they made it clear this exhibit was a separate entity. Though after my museum studies class, I was somewhat disappointed with their exhibit design - it was black text, Times New Roman at that, against white board. Ahh well.
These photos are just of the Surprise - later this afternoon I'll post pictures of the Star of India - and I was more pleased with those photos. But it was an absolutely incredible experience, to finally see the Surprise - I only hope it isn't years before I return.
As we circled the museum in vain, trying to find a spot to park, I was struck by how small the Surprise was. Perhaps it's just all the larger ships, but from afar, it just seemed as it she should be bigger. It didn't damper my delight at all - nor my displeasure as it took us nearly 15 minutes to park.
While I'm very much a Stephen when it comes to heights, I love the aesthetics of masts and rigging against the sky.
This was a shameless moviefan picture - the next time, I'll bring a book and a hat and do it properly. I must have sat there for at least five minutes, just basking in the moment.
On the gun deck, you can see the remote mechanism they used to actually steer the ship. But this was much more aesthetically pleasing.
A set-up of the mess tables between the guns. While they do have the pirate exhibits on the gun deck, they still have a few movie exhibits - so while I was disappointed to have missed the original exhibits, I hope they'll eventually change it.
While it was nearly impossible to get a non-blurry photo without a flash, I absolutely had to attempt this photo.
If anything, there are too many photos to take aboard the surprise. I only took 90 pictures of both the Surprise and Star of India and it doesn't feel like enough.
The red ensign, fluttering in the breeze, was beautiful - it was tricky to capture against the light of the sun.
The stern is an appropriate place to end - and though I normally hate pictures of myself, I had to get at least one in with 'my Surprise.'
These photos are just of the Surprise - later this afternoon I'll post pictures of the Star of India - and I was more pleased with those photos. But it was an absolutely incredible experience, to finally see the Surprise - I only hope it isn't years before I return.
As we circled the museum in vain, trying to find a spot to park, I was struck by how small the Surprise was. Perhaps it's just all the larger ships, but from afar, it just seemed as it she should be bigger. It didn't damper my delight at all - nor my displeasure as it took us nearly 15 minutes to park.
While I'm very much a Stephen when it comes to heights, I love the aesthetics of masts and rigging against the sky.
This was a shameless moviefan picture - the next time, I'll bring a book and a hat and do it properly. I must have sat there for at least five minutes, just basking in the moment.
On the gun deck, you can see the remote mechanism they used to actually steer the ship. But this was much more aesthetically pleasing.
A set-up of the mess tables between the guns. While they do have the pirate exhibits on the gun deck, they still have a few movie exhibits - so while I was disappointed to have missed the original exhibits, I hope they'll eventually change it.
While it was nearly impossible to get a non-blurry photo without a flash, I absolutely had to attempt this photo.
If anything, there are too many photos to take aboard the surprise. I only took 90 pictures of both the Surprise and Star of India and it doesn't feel like enough.
The red ensign, fluttering in the breeze, was beautiful - it was tricky to capture against the light of the sun.
The stern is an appropriate place to end - and though I normally hate pictures of myself, I had to get at least one in with 'my Surprise.'
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-18 08:31 pm (UTC)Oh, is she not the beauty of the world, the dear joyful Surprise!
The seat, the rigging, the S Maturin, the helm, the lantern...
*sigh*
The stern with her name on it!
*more sigh*
Pardon me for not being more coherent. I tend to fall back to my babbling stage whenever I see this little frigate.Thank you so much for the photos. Will there be more of her?
You look indeed very cheerful and happy. I'd probably wear one of those cheesy ejit grins if I haver have the chance to see her.
Thanks again.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-18 08:33 pm (UTC)Where did you take that picture of the "S. Maturin"?
Somehow, her being so small just makes me love her all the more. <3!
no subject
Date: 2007-06-18 08:47 pm (UTC)And I totally didn't know what you looked like before!
no subject
Date: 2007-06-18 09:13 pm (UTC)Thanks for sharing.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-19 03:52 am (UTC)Lovely photos- it's cool to get to see a picture of you, too! =)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-19 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-20 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 06:35 pm (UTC)Thanks for being willing to take the bears one day. I can already see Stephen Bear sulking...and Jack Bear will enjoy taking the helm.
We'll work something out one day, I'm sure.
Thank you so very much for the card.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-22 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 04:16 am (UTC)Oh, so lovely...! How happy for you!