The Star of India and other ships

There are so many things to do in San Diego, but we had only a short time there, so we each chose things to do. The woodworker REALLY wanted to go see the Star of India, so that is what we did. Star of India is an old sailing ship that is part of a maritime museum at the harbor in San Diego. It was built in 1863 and originally called Euterpe. It is a full-rigged iron windjammer. It is still sailed once a year or so.



It had a number of uses during its working years. One of those was taking emigrants to New Zealand. I thought the emigrant cabins looked pretty tiny...and those were for the well-to-do folks!




Being on that ship made me tired. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. Then I realized it was because I always felt off balance, so was always having to readjust how I was standing. Even tied up to the dock, the ship was moving just enough to need 'sea legs' I guess.

Nearby was another 'ship'...a Russian submarine! Apparently one recent visitor to the submarine was a former captain from when it was part of the Russian navy. I decided I could probably not live in a submarine. One requirement for visiting the sub was being able to go through round holes to get from one section to another. That was a challenge, but we made it!



All the signs were in Russian, so I've no idea what they said.





I don't know how they managed to cook for a whole crew in such a tiny galley!





There were no interior walls ...just the bare wires and pipes all over the place. I suppose they knew what all the little pieces and parts were for, but it just looked like confusion to me.



They used the hot bunk arrangement of sleeping, so 1/3 of the crew was sleeping at any given time. They apparently used disposable sheets as the bunks were occupied by someone 24 hours a day. These bunks were right out in a corridor, but I think I'd have preferred them to some of the ones jammed back between pieces of equipment.



I don't think I'd have made it in any navy.