Pastorelas (or shepherds' plays) are another key aspect of Mexican Christmas tradition. Pastorelas are dramatic pieces which represent various historical scenarios, including trip of Saint Joseph and Virgin Mary to register themselves in Roman census, hardships they suffered while searching in vain for shelter, or one of most common, shepherd's adoration of Baby Jesus.

The plays date back to Mexico's Colonial period when Catholic missionaries used these dramatizations to convert natives to Christianity. The first known pastorela to have been performed was "Los Reyes" (the three kings) acted out by missionaries in 1527 in Cuernavaca. Today, they are often performed by professional groups, but also by children and amateurs.

Mexico welcomes New Year with an abundance of music, dancing and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, friends and families congregating for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of chiming bell, at midnight for luck in coming 12 months. New Year's Day is usually a quiet time of rest and reflection.

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Sip Brandy at Observation BarThe Observation Bar is where Clark Gable once sipped Brandy as he made his way across Atlantic — and venue is still alive with fabulous sunsets and distinctive drinks. It is located near Chelsea restaurant.

For a fine dining enjoyment, Executive Chef Tom Tassone creates an epicurean excursion daily. Named 2001 Chef of Year by Southern California Restaurant Writers Association, Chef Tassone overseas culinary efforts on-board, including those at 4-star Sir Winston's (named after Churchill — and many of The Chelsea for Fine Diningsuites are also named after historical personages — Churchill, Eisenhower, The Windsors, etc.).

Sir Winston's is strictly a formal restaurant located on fantail, and it is signature dining spot on Queen Mary. I dined this evening at Chelsea, a less formal experience with wide harbor-side windows and still first class, most famous for its seafood. The gold-award winning nitery is open Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Reservations required for both Sir Winston's and Chelsea. But of course, Queen has a majestic wine list. Did you doubt? During day I dined at Promenade Café or coffee and bakery shop, or if you are here on a Sunday, partake famed Champagne Brunch featuring more than 50 food stations! Wow, Queen knows how to live! Long live Queen!

To know Queen you have to take tours — there are numerous guided tours, or you can take Self-Guided Shipwalk Tour. I really recommend Ghost and Legends Show highlighting haunted history of this stellar steel giant. The Treasures from Queen Mary Archives and Behind The Scenes Tour are a great prelude to World War II Guided Tour or exceptional tour of Cold War era "Scorpion" Russian Submarine floating alongside at Queen's guay.

Visit a Legendary Ghost I booked myself on Ghost and Legend Tour, and I am sipping a hot cup of joe (Gi joe moniker for coffee) from starboard bakery before tour begins, then I check out replica posters in Times Past antique poster shop on Promenade Deck. The entrance to Ghost and Legends tour is outside and you actually walk into lower decks from a doorway cut into Queen's bow. I look down curving graceful lines of her traditional colors of black and red stripes painted ship length, but aft is lost in curves and horizon. She is so huge! With over ten million rivets holding eight-foot-long hull plates together along her entire 1,019 foot length, Queen had plenty of muscle — 160,000 horsepower —to move 81,000 gross tons of steel.

There are still reported and recorded testimonials from people that see ghosts on Queen, so I had to check out veracity on $4 million exhibit taking up over 25,000-square-feet of space within bowels of ship's bow, where former boilers, now removed, were located. The most stunning aspect of tour is when ship slams into simulated Caracoa — boiler room fills with steam (fake, non-lethal variety), there is a dramatic change in temperature, ghostly images, special weathered ceilings and walls, electrostatic charges and a phenomenal water effect making me wonder if I will become one of dark denizens of ship's depths to later appear in a different time and a different era.

The first class swimming pool is no longer in use, but it is a familiar site for apparitions. Do you see footprints made with no earthly body? The Art Deco pool is a vortex for other side, according to clairvoyant paranormal experts. There are reports of women in vintage bathing suits, sound of splashing water, and children laughing near pool. I must admit I felt a tingler jump down my spine.

As a member of Allied Forces The Grey Ghost traveled 630,000 miles and transported over 880,000 personnel to help win war. In fact, ship was Sir Winston Churchill's command post at sea. Later, she brought back war brides from Europe.

The Ghost Ship In The Pacific TheaterThe new World War II Guided Tour is

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com