One of the things we did while in Orlando was visit a Titanic "experience". It was billed as having lots of genuine items from Titanic, and you could also "experience" an iceberg so it sounded interesting, and it certainly lived up to expectations.
Queensland, now called Cobh (pronounce cove) in Cork, Ireland was the last port of call of the Titanic, and one of my ancestors was supposed to go on her, but something happened at the last minute, and she, fortunately, didn't go. So I have a personal interest in all things Titanic. Also, she hit the iceberg on 14th April, my eldest daughter's birthdate.
The exhibition was very good, actors brought the group around part of it, as though we were passengers on the ship. We got a real feel of the luxury in which these people lived -the 1st and 2nd classes. We were not, thankfully, treated to the steerage class experience.
They also had an iceberg that we could touch to "experience" just how cold that is, and the water was even colder. It must have been terrifying for everybody on board, but 2 things stay with me from the exhibition- only 1 lifeboat came back to look for survivors, and one person who survived did so by consuming large amounts of alcohol as soon as he realised that the ship would sink; this acted as anti-freeze in his body. I'd like to think that if I had been on a lifeboat, I would have persuaded the other occupants to turn back, but which of us knows what we'd do ?
I remember going to the cinema to watch the film when it was released, something I rarely do. I remember feeling freezing when it started to sink and heartbroken when the other boats wouldn't go back for survivors.
ReplyDeleteI will have to put it on my list of places to visit.
Yes, we saw that exhibit when it was in Victoria. That iceberg was quite amazing! Did you have a real person's ticket so you could discover, at the end of the tour, whether your persona survived? I did not - and that was the eeriest feeling.
ReplyDeleteIt was as good an excuse as any to get drunk. It must be a fascinating exhibition. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteE D- it's well worth a visit
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I forgot to mention that! I was 2nd clsss and did not survive, hubby was 1st class but he didn't survive either
V- yes, fascinating!
Thank you for your comments, m
That looks fantastic, Mimi. I'm so interested in history as a whole and the history of the Titanic fascinates me tremendously. That room set up looks so beautiful. The 1st classes really were taken care of weren't they.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I would do in that situation. I think I would go into protective mode and find strength I never knew I had.
Lots of love, CJ xx
p.s. I've been writing all day today and my brain's a bit mushed; when I read your daughter's birthday is on the 14th April my jaw dropped as I suddenly thought, "but that was in 1912!"
Think I need a break!!