strong>story and photos by Kayte Deioma
The Scorpion submarine, decommissioned by the Russian Navy in 1994, was added to the Queen Mary attraction in 1998 after a brief tour in Australia. This Soviet foxtrot sub was built in 1972 in Leningrad and used to search for and track enemy forces during the Cold War, especially in the Pacific Ocean.
Climbing down into the cramped quarters of the sub, you might get the impression of crawling through a children’s maze at Discovery Zone except for the posted warnings: “Submarine is still in operational condition. Please do not operate any equipment.” Since there’s no room for a tour guide, a voice recording tells you the function of each compartment. Seventy-eight crew members were packed together like sardines for up to three months at a time in this 300-foot nickel steel tube. They shared two showers and three toilets and slept in shifts.
Six giant torpedo tubes greet you as you climb down the ladder. Doubling over to climb through a hatch into the next compartment, you just about bump into the periscope. You have to bend over or crouch down to look through, but the awesome optics give you a great up-close view of the Shoreline Marina across the bay.
Proceeding down the starboard side of the submarine, I marvel at the dozens 
of dials and wheels available to my curious hands and wonder at what they might do. While the controls are exposed, the radio equipment and bunks in the next compartment are protected by glass partitions. We get a glimpse in the kitchen and a look at some submarine guts through glass panels before we pass some more exposed bunks and an escape suit. We make our own escape up the aft ladder and back out to daylight.
Because it is challenging to maneuver up and down ladders and through hatches, people with even minor mobility issues may have difficulty on the Scorpion. Children must be at least 48 inches tall to enter.
nail salon and periodic therapeutic massage from physical therapists and acupuncturists in clinical settings. So, for the sake of research, I have to try out these treatments that managed to stay on the spa menu for 70 years. Both of these historical services are incorporated into the Queen’s Royal Secret, a luxurious hour-long facial followed by a half hour general body massage.
The smiling Jennifer greets me from behind her art deco glass counter in the gleaming wood-paneled reception area. Potted plants in the curtained portholes add a homey touch. A pitcher of water with strawberries and orange and cucumber slices stands invitingly on the counter. After filling out the requisite paperwork, Jennifer introduces me to Joseph Garcia, my “esthetician.” I wonder when they dropped the aesthetic a.
cleansers, a gentle rice-based exfoliant
discovered by women working rice fields in Asia
and why do I need to remember this again? Oh yeah, research. A gentle massage of my face
hands
arms
shoulders with stress relief and toxin relief oil. All the stress is gone. In between layers I glean from Joseph that he has also done make-up for Pamela Anderson, LA Fashion Week, photographers and filmmakers, as well as visitors to the Queen’s Spa.
Hot towel. Painted on masks – two flavors at once. Eyes covered. Now comes the traditional infra-red lamp. Joseph brings something warm and heavy, smelling of oatmeal and places it over my already-covered eyes.
a few more moments and the weight is lifted. The darkness is peeled away. Another hot towel, then a spray of cool mist toner, hydrating booster, moisturizer, sunscreen, protective sealer to keep the pollutants at bay
As the last layer is smoothed over my skin, I am thinking
this is the best hour of work I have ever accomplished. And there’s more to come