Photography by Marilyn Price

California 2019-20

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Jan 1
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Jan 5

Monday, December 30

Today started early. This is the first official day of the tour, so the breakfast area was crowded.

We all boarded the buses about 7 am. There are four buses and each is color coded. So are the passenger name tags. Ours is the blue bus.

First stop of the day is one of the large Float Barns in the area. This one assembles something like 20 out of the 40 some floats and is one of the few that's open to tourists. We were there for about an hour and a half, restricted to a single wide path snaking through one end of the building, but we could see 8-10 different floats fairly close and more in the distance.

Sign at the float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Flowers ready for floats, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Tourists, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left is one of the signs at the float construction barn. The center photo shows some of the many, many racks of flowers awaiting processing so that they can be placed on the floats. The photo on the right shows some of the tourists snaking their way through this large building.

Roses ready for the floats, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Roses ready for the floats, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Orchids ready for the float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows some of the flats of roses, each in its own vial of water, ready to place on the floats. The vials are pushed into a styrofoam base. The center photo shows a closer view of these flats of roses. The vials of water are visible in this photo. The photo on the right shows an open box of orchids ready for placement.

Carnation stems aren't useful for floats, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Roses ready for the float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Dried material waiting to be glued in place, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows a trash can full of carnation stems. The stems weren't needed for this float. Some of the flowers were flattened to make rondels on a float. Some were completely torn apart so that the individual petals could be glued in place. The center photo shows another group of flats of roses waiting their turn. The photo on the right shows some trays of dried material that was "painted" directly onto the float surface to create different texture. There's also some bark to the right of the photo that is shredded to make "fur".

The people carrying these large flats of flowers from storage to nearer the floats were really moving fast. By the time I'd spot one, she'd be past me and all I could see was her back!

Lots of roses, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Details on Wescom float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Mailbox on Wescom float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows more roses waiting for processing. The photo on the right is from the Wescom float and shows some of the nuts of various types that provide texture to the tree bark. It also shows that sometimes flowers appear as themselves in large bouquets. The center photo shows a detail of the mailbox on the Wescom float.

Truck, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Shaggy cat on Wescom float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Shaggy cat on Wescom float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows another view of the truck that rides on the Wescom float. It had to receive a special permit to appear as is - that is, not covered by flowers or other natural material. The other two photos show two views of the shaggy cat (delivering books?) that rides the Wescom float. The shaggy fur is made by combing fibrous bark until it looks just right. They would also use pampas grass for other fur.

Dog with basket of flowers on Wescom float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Gluing silverleaf onto a trunk, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows a squirrel and a shaggy dog on the Wescom float. The squirrel is welcoming a family to the neighborhood with a welcome basket of goodies. The dog is bringing along a basket of flowers.

The photo on the right shows another detail of the Wescom float. This person was gluing silverleaf onto a trunk and getting a lot of it stuck to her fingers, too. (Note: there's a picture of the finished trunk on the January 1 page...)

Front of the Rotary float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Bookish lion cub on the Lions float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Bookish lion cub on the Lions float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left above shows a view of the Rotary Club float. In the parade, the bird is much more upright. This position lowers him to a level that's easier to work with. The other two photos show two views of the Lions Club float - a lion cub reading a book with the help of a bookworm.

Huntington Library float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Detail of the City of Hope float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

These two floats were a bit farther away from our limited area, but they sure were pretty. The photo on the left shows part of the Huntington Library float with it's many structures.

The photo on the right shows a detail of the City of Hope float, showing how they incorporate real orchids and oversized, fake orchids on this float. Remember to click on this photo to see a larger version of it. It's worth it.

Trader Joes float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Trader Joes float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Trader Joes float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

These three photos show three views of the Trader Joe's float. The photo on the left shows a side view. The center photo shows some of the detail in the face and head of the pilot. The photo on the right shows a close up of the details going into his shirt and suspenders.

Gluing on individual petals, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Lemons, limes, onions, and brussel sprouts make a starfish, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

The photo on the left shows more details of the Trader Joe's float, including the bird that keeps the pilot company.

The photo on the right shows how lemons, limes, onions, and brussel sprouts were used to create texture on this starfish.

Details of Trader Joe's float, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA Gluing on individual petals, Float construction barn, Los Angeles, CA

These two photos show how sometimes the volunteers would glue individual petals to the surface to create a flatter texture. These are two different floats, but the technique was the same for both.

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Then it was back on the buses to drive to Long Beach for lunch at the Lighthouse Restaurant, which was good. They even made accommodations for my non-dairy diet.

After lunch, we had a few minutes to wander around the shops in the area before boarding the buses again to go around the block to the Queen Mary.

Lunch restaurant, Long Beach, CA Lighthouse and marina, Long Beach, CA Wreath in a store window, Long Beach, CA

The photo on the left above shows some of our group approaching the restaurant where we ate lunch. I think we took over the entire building... The center photo shows the lighthouse at Long Beach and some of the marina. The photo on the right shows a nautical wreath in the window of one store.

Heron, Long Beach, CA Lamppost, Long Beach, CA Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

The photo on the left shows a heron perched on a store roof. It seemed quite content there. The center photo shows the Christmas decorations on the lampposts in the parking lot. The photo on the right shows our first good view of the Queen Mary as we return to the buses for the short drive to the Queen Mary entrance.

We had a guided tour of the Queen Mary, which was nice. We could have spent longer there. Most of the time was on a guided tour, but we did have a few minutes to see some sections without the crowd (and to visit the gift shops).

Promenade deck, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Christmas tree in hotel lobby, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Mural over the bar, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

The photo on the left shows the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary. The center photo shows a Christmas tree located in the hotel lobby (the Queen Mary also functions as a hotel). The photo on the right shows the mural that appears over the ship's bar.

Stairway to an upper level, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA View of the lighthouse, restaurant, and city from Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Outside deck, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

The photo on the left shows a stairway to an upper level. The center photo shows a view of the lighthouse, the restaurant, and the city of Long Beach from an outside deck. The photo on the right shows the view along one of the outside decks of the ship.

Kelly and Marilyn, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Kelly takes a selfie, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA Kelly takes a selfie, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

The photo on the left shows Kelly and me on an outside deck of the Queen Mary. The center photo shows Kelly checking the selfie she just took (photo on the right).

Then we reboarded the buses for the trip back to the hotel for a Happy Hour for the three of us to unwind and to allow the lines for the elevators to diminish. Is it really only 7 pm??? I think I'll go crash for the night.....

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