#321 - Farewell to Queen Elizabeth 2

Photos by João Quaresma

Last thursday was called at Lisbon, for the last time the Queen Elizabeth 2, more than a handsome bellhop, this ship is a veritable institution. Completed in 1967, was the last big pack of British design and construction, and represents the end of an era in many respects. Still belongs to a time when passenger ships were built not only for cruise trips, but for transport, and therefore had to be fast to be competitive, unable to compete with the plane, many were reused for cruising. It is also a time when these ships were considered strategic resources of a country, in case they are needed to transport troops in wartime (if the QE2, which was mobilized during the War of the Malvinas / Falkland, in 1982), and why its bid was largely subsided. It is still motor with steam turbines, a system that is no longer used in favor of more economical and compact diesel or gas turbines. And, most evident from the outside, is a time when there was real good taste in that the ships be looking stylish without sacrificing anything on behalf of transporting more passengers and to offices of floating holidays.

The QE2 is not the last ship of this generation in service (among other things, our dear Funchal continues, proud, navigating with the Portuguese flag, as a last resistance of our glorious Merchant Navy before). But it is the most famous and most symbolic. So this his last cruise, after which to Dubai which will serve as floating hotel-casino, symbolizes the end of an era. ~JQ

A big thanks to João Quaresma for submitting this photos and captions, and for his collaboration on Lisbon Daily Photo Blog :)