Back in 2011 I met a lovely lady named Lisa.  Lisa liked to sit by herself or one on one.  She is onboard again this year and we renewed our casual friendship. Early on she mentioned she would  turn 99 years young.  This lady  does not look over 80 and she is so gracious.  The captain made an announcement of her birthday  and  there was quite a party for her.  Lisa is the lady who wrote the book Table for One.  She decided to keep traveling after her husband died and that was the inspiration for the book   I don’t have a photo of her but if I can get one I will post it.

Albany is just as I remembered.  A small town on  a gentle sloping hill with a small park off to the side and a bandstand in the middle of York Street.  The people had set up tents with arts and crafts and reasonable prices.  Unfortunately it did rain which put a slight crimp in everyone’s day including the hometown people.  These people are the friendliest.  When it rained hard we all found a pub to wait it out.

While I was standing under my umbrella  a nice gentleman came over and said how sorry he was that it was raining.  I mentioned I was here before on the QE2’s last world cruise and her last time to Albany.  He proceeded to tell me what happen after we left.  In his words he said history was made in Albany.  As the QE2 was leaving the entire town stopped everything to wave goodbye.  Including their cars.  It took three hours to clean up the ensuing traffic jam.  This is a little town with few people and I can imagine their surprise to see a traffic jam.