Meanwhile, back at the ship, Bill and Arlene had managed to get all our suitcases packed and were in the process of trying to get hotel rooms booked in Brisbane. The ship was supposed to have sailed at 6:00 pm and all aboard was 5:30 pm! Once they learned the Dr. had discharged Mary and we were on our way, they told us the ship would wait but only for a short while. We were supposed to be there by 6:30 pm. It turns out there are two ports in Brisbane and our taxi driver was headed to the wrong port. The Queen Mary 2 is so large she can't get under the bridges to dock at the other port where most of the cruise ships dock. The taxi driver did ask if we were docked at Hamilton and I didn't know so we called Bill and Arlene. There was nothing on any of the literture that said where we were docked so they went running off to find out where we were. Turns out the correct dock was quite a bit further away. In the meantime (thankfully for us there were two other crisis on the ship)! There were a group of five passengers in a rental car that got lost and couldn't find their way back to the ship and there was another passenger who took ill and they were waiting for an ambulance to transport that person to a hospital. The ship told Bill and Arlene that when the other passenger was put on the ambulance they were leaving. They kept telling them they had to get off the ship. Now I call on the cell phone and tell them we are in the correct port, but that we are lost and the driver doesn't know how to,get to the Queen Mary Dock. I asked for someone to give him directions and they did. They decided to wait since they knew we were in the port area ( it's a huge shipping complex and at night there was no one to ask and no signs to say which way to go.). As they were telling Arlene they were leaving, she pitched a fit and started crying and telling them they couldn't do this, etc. (She says she deserved an Oscar). They told her to calm down and that they would wait a few more minutes. By then, we'd found our way. They put Mary in a wheelchair and whisked her up,the ramp while I gave them the discharge letter from the Dr. ( We could not get on without the letter from the Dr. at the hospital.). Mary is in quarantine for 48 hours, but we are all safe and sound. She is still weak and gets light headed, but is eating well and the cough seems less today. She is absolutely drained and sleeping a lot. She was better this afternoon. We got her in the shower, but that wore her out so she went back to bed to sleep. She is better this afternoon than she was this morning so we are moving in the right direction. I think the cough syrup we are giving her makes her drowsy. We are pushing the fluids, but she just hates water! She does know she doesn't have a choice and isn't complaining.. I think she is going to be in her stateroom recovering for about a week, but we'll see. I will keep you all posted. But rest assured, all the tests from the hospital were negative except for dehydration and the presence of a virus..it just takes a while to get it back together when you get sick and are already tired.. Everyone in Brisbane was spectacular-- from the young married doctors, the ambulance drivers, the nurses and the Dr. at the hospital-- all of whom could not have been more efficient or nicer. The hospital had us checked in in 3 minutes and we checked out and paid the bill in less then 5 minutes! A totally different experience then a US hospital I assure you! I was most impressed with the private hospital !!
I am posting some photos of the morning drive around Brisbane -- a lovely city... Today is St. Patrick's on our side of the world! We are dressed in our green and headed to the Captain's St Patricks day cocktail party..
With our driver, Keith, a wonderful guy who was a great help!
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