Television and New York Newspapers were going wild over the fact that the Ari Onassis Yacht, Christina, had moored in New York on the Hudson River. It was the first time the ship had been brought into the New York Harbor. The television showed hundreds of cars slowly driving along the parkway on West Side Highway, overlooking the Hudson just to catch a glimpse of it. It was touted as the world’s most luxurious private yacht and owned by one of the world’s richest men. Even my family and I were enchanted by all the publicity and joined those many sightseers to look upon it out there in the bay. It was an awe inspiring sight, I must say. Little did I know that I would soon be invited aboard that yacht over and over again.

Maria Callas called me a few days later. She asked if I could make time in my schedule to attend to her, she said she was calling from the "Christina," the Onassis Yacht in New York’s harbor. She would like my attention daily for the next six weeks on board the yacht if I could arrange it, and would send a limousine for me. I agreed to her contract. I must say that when I had viewed the yacht as a sightseer from the high cliffs of the Hudson with my family, I was not aware that she was aboard.

What a surprise was waiting for me! At the appointed hour, Mr. Onassis’ limousine arrived, his initials were on the doors as I recall. I carried my briefcase with my necessary equipment and was off to see Miss Callas again. When I stepped out of the limousine at the docks (79^th Street, Boat Basin) where I was to be taken by one of Mr. Onassis’ tenders to the ship, I was surrounded by reporters and television cameras with the reporters all shouting questions at once to me. "Are you a friend of Mr. Onassis? Are you a friend of Miss Callas? What is your business aboard the yacht? How long will you be aboard? Who are you?," I remember them asking.

Fortunately, I was told of this situation possibly occurring and Miss Callas asked me only to say, "Sorry, no comment, no comment." The questions continued until I was assisted into the "Tender," a speedboat, by two immaculately dressed seamen and we sped off from the pier. I couldn’t believe that I was going to see Miss Callas aboard this beautiful ship that only a few days ago I had gone out of my way to view from the high cliffs of the Hudson, looking down on it.

I had a small movie camera with me and took some footage approaching the yacht. The accommodation stairs were down waiting for me, and when I reached the top and stepped on the teakwood deck, I was greeted by a young, tall and handsome gentleman, dressed in a white uniform. He introduced himself as First Mate, Dimitrious Boufardious. Bells were ringing, and my thought was that my arrival was being announced, perhaps to Miss Callas, I don’t know. He escorted me into a double entrance doorway that led into the grand foyer. There was a lovely stair case with a Lapis Lazuli hand railing and everything was white walls and carpeting. Beautiful lighting from a chandelier and white pedestals with huge bouquets of long-stemmed American Beauty Roses. He said, "Miss Callas is waiting for you," and I followed him to the right along a narrow corridor to her state room in the middle of the ship.

Miss Callas kissed and embraced me and said that she was so glad to see me again. She went on to say that she was being honored at the Waldorf-Astoria that day and wanted to look her very best. She had already bathed and her hair was still wet. I set it on rollers and placed her under a hairdryer conveniently placed for her near a lovely chaise lounge. She spoke of many concerts and operas that she performed in Europe since seeing me last, I was sitting with her while she was filing her nails, smiling enthusiastically as she spoke.

Her maids were coming and going, speaking to her in Greek and arranging her wardrobe with her approval, placing it on her large double bed. Her state room was in my opinion, the largest on the yacht, decorated in muted colors of beige. There was a lovely dressing table and mirror along the wall at the foot of her bed with port holes above it, where I did her hair and make-up. Her adjoining bathroom was quite spectacular with fixtures of gold and sculptured dolphins at the head of the tub. The walls were mirrored and marbled. I was told later that all the fixtures were solid gold throughout the state rooms on the yacht.

I noted that she was still very slender, and her features had become even more classic in appearance, since I had last seen her. When I finished with her for that day, I left quickly so she could dress. It was understood that I would see her the next day. She noted my movie camera on her bed and asked me to refrain from taking any pictures aboard the yacht as it would displease Mr. Onassis. I agreed, of course.

In reaching the dock, I again was besieged by reporters but only answered their many questions with, "No comment," again and stepped into the limousine waiting for me. After a few days attending to Miss Callas, with her sitting under the hairdryer, she said that if I would like to wander about the yacht, that it would be perfectly all right. Of course, I was delighted to do so. Down the corridor and through the entrance foyer, I went into the grand salon. It was very large in off white, with white silk sofas and beautifully appointed with a Lapis Lazuli fireplace, over which hung a lovely portrait of Tina, Mrs. Aristotle Onassis. At the far end of the room was a beautiful white baby grand piano. On one of the adjoining walls hung a rare El Greco painting. The entire ambiance was very formal and luxurious. Bouquets of flowers were placed here and there.

Continuing on through the Grand Salon, I entered into another luxurious room called "the lounge". It was in the forward section of the main deck and its far walls were rounded and magnificently draped behind mahogany pillars. This room had many conversational seating areas divided with two large sofas and comfortable white silk lounge chairs. Crystal chandeliers hung on both sides of the room. I was told that it was here that most of the guests would gather for the evening. On the walls hung another El Greco, a Pauquin, and a Pissaro painting.

The dining room was also quite spectacular. It was also in the round and could seat twenty-two guests for a sumptuous dinner. Its walls were magnificently paneled and had a "Vermeer" and an interesting collection of paintings representing the four seasons. I was told Mrs. Onassis and her two children, Alexander and Christina were the models for Winter, Autumn, and Spring. Summer was represented by a young lady in a swimsuit, lying on a beach. A large white table dominated the room surrounded by many Louis XVI (chairs)! Everywhere you looked, there were objects of art. Mr. Onassis had a collection of Eighteenth Century ivory boats. There were gold tobacco boxes and crystal ashtrays. Mr. Onassis had a hydroplane on the deck which was always fueled. There were six lifeboats on the upper deck, four Chris-Craft boats, and two smaller vessels.

Off the grand salon, I wandered into the bar and game room. When I entered, a gentleman in a white coat came to my attention and welcomed me with a nod. He spoke in Greek, which I did not understand. However, noting that it was late afternoon, I sat at the bar and decided to ask for a whisky sour. After much discourse, he understood and presented me with one. I sat there enjoying it in silence, as he did not speak again, but just stood there with his arms crossed against his chest, almost at attention.

In my wanderings about the yacht, I had noticed that all of the staff wore white coats. I was told that the Christina had a staff of sixty six, and two chefs, one for cooking Greek cuisine and the other for French.

I gazed around the room, which was small but unusual. I noted a line of slot machines along one wall, but did not investigate them at this time. I glanced at my watch as I was timing Miss Callas under the dryer and did not want to cause her any delays. There was still plenty of time, I decided to enjoy my drink. As I sat there, another gentleman in a white coat entered and approached me smiling. He asked what was I drinking and when I told him, he said he would prefer that I enjoy a drink made from 200 year old pirate rum and directed the bartender in Greek to serve me. He nodded, and left the room. I was somewhat taken aback by my new drink as it was presented to me in a human skull. I looked at it, hoping it wasn’t a real one but, I still don’t know to this day whether it was real or not! It was quite delicious, and quite potent.

When I returned to Miss Callas, she asked if I enjoyed the yacht. I told her of the very kind steward who had served me the 200 year old pirate rum drink in the bar. She looked at me questionably for a moment and said, "Robert, that could not have been a steward. Only Mr. Onassis would serve you his finest rum." I didn’t know what to say. I had mistaken Mr. Onassis as a steward. I had never seen a picture of Mr. Onassis, so I had no idea what he looked like! Miss Callas burst out laughing, which eased my embarrassment. I don’t know whether she ever mentioned it to him, as it was apparent that the next time I met Mr. Onassis, it seemed that the incident had been forgotten.

I continued to attend to Miss Callas daily without much incident. Sometimes we would just talk while she was under the hair dryer, and she was always grooming her nails at this time, and used a European cream on her exquisite hands. At other times, I would walk about the yacht and found myself intrigued by the slot machines in the bar. They were filled with foreign gold coins and I wanted to win some of them as a token, so I started playing each day without success.

On another visit, I was in the bar playing the slot machine when in walked Mr. Onassis with his First Mate, Dimitrious Boufardious. Mr. Onassis was most cordial, noticed what I was doing and asked if I had been lucky. My response was a negative one. Then Mr. Onassis asked If I would like a tour of the yacht. I was impressed by his invitation and followed him into some of the state rooms, and lastly into a stateroom that he said was Winston Churchill’s, who had recently left. On the wall at the foot of the bed, he directed my attention to a painting that Mr. Churchill had just finished while he was aboard the Christina. It was a soft, pastel, oil landscape. I thought it quite outstanding and said so. I raised my hand in its direction and Mr. Onassis said, "Please don’t touch it, as it is still wet." He seemed to take much pleasure in showing me everything, and I was completely charmed by him. He was not what I considered a handsome man, being short and stocky, medium complexion with very strong features, but he had charisma. His smile was broad and inviting. He then said, "Follow me, I want to show you something very special." We went into the grand salon and he led me to a white marble pedestal on which a jade Buddha was encased with a glass dome. He said, "This is my most prized possession, as it goes back to the Ming Dynasty and is the only one in the Western World." I looked at it, and quite frankly did not know what to say, as I thought it was ugly. Then he pressed a button on the side of the pedestal, and a very large ruby tongue emerged, and went in and out. I just stared at it in disbelief. When he saw the expression on my face, he then told me, "It is more valuable than the Christina itself." I nodded with as much enthusiasm as I could at the moment.

We then went into his private office, nicely furnished with a magnificent desk that he said had belonged to Napoleon. It was very ornate and I dared to touch it. He smiled and pointed to the wall above it, where there hung two magnificent gold swords encrusted with rare jewels; emerald, rubies, and diamonds. He said it was a gift to him from King Saud of Arabia. At that point, I think I swallowed my tongue! I just stared.

A thought ran through my mind at that moment, that I could not believe that this gentleman, one of the wealthiest men in the world was not only honoring me by showing me all these treasures, but that he was enjoying my unworldly company. He must have thought of me as a little boy in a candy shop, I’m sure, when he saw the glee on my face.

We next went out on the rear deck, where he showed me the raised dance floor. "It is a mosaic of inlaid 24 carat gold tile with the design copied from the Palace of Knossos," Mr. Onassis explained. He said it was also a swimming pool, and pressed a button. The entire floor lowered itself to the bottom and water began to come in. He then raised it to deck level within minutes. Again, I was impressed. I walked to the railing and looked out at the beautiful skyline of New York City. All the lights of the buildings were beginning to come on as it was just about dusk. He then excused himself and said he had to dress as their Royal Highnesses Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were expected aboard shortly.

I returned to Miss Callas in her state room to finish with her, all the while telling her the experience I had with Mr. Onassis. She replied smiling, "Robert, he must like you to spend so much time with you. He usually keeps to himself." However, I could see that she was pleased. As I was still working with Miss Callas’ hair and make up, Mr. Onassis suddenly burst into the suite with an angry expression and spoke to her very abruptly, I thought in Greek, and then left. Miss Callas said we must hurry as Mr. Onassis is upset, since the Prince and Princess had already arrived and she still had to dress. Her gown and accessories had been selected and without hesitation, she took off her robe and quickly put on her gown which I zipped up for her, then her shoes and her jewels. One glance in the mirror and she was gone.

I caught a glimpse of their Royal Highness’ in the Grand Salon as I left, Miss Callas graciously chatting with them. I thought of the evening when I had danced with Princess Grace’s mother at Jeanne Kerbs party. On the way home in the limousine, I could not help but think how privileged I was to be a small part of all this glamour. Of course, my busy days in the Salon continued throughout this period but, thanks to my youth and tremendous energy, I was able to meet all these obligations.

Another time when I was on the yacht with Miss Callas, and again she was under the hair dryer filing her nails, I sat there on her bed talking with her. She was excited about the coming evening, and as her maids were coming and going, still speaking to them in Greek, gowns were brought to her for her approval. She selected a beautiful deep emerald green one with thin spaghetti straps and it was hung on the molding to her bathroom. And then her maid brought in a satin jewelry box and placed it on the bed where I was sitting and opened it in view of Miss Callas. It was filled with jewels and I looked at Miss Callas, not believing what I saw, and asked, "Are these real?" Miss Callas smiled and said, "Of course they’re real Robert." I looked at them in wonderment and asked, "Where did you get all these beautiful jewels, Miss Callas? They are magnificent." She laughed and said, "Some I have purchased and others I have acquired from admirers." As I sat there I could not resist touching them, and glancing at Miss Callas, I saw that she did not mind. I carefully lifted out a ring of diamonds and admiringly placed it on my finger. Then a diamond and emerald bracelet which I placed on my wrist, then more rings and bracelets, holding them up to Miss Callas. I held up a diamond and ruby necklace and admired it, Miss Callas all the while seemingly enjoyed my excitement, laughing, smiling, and still filing her nails. As I look back, it was a wonderful unexpected moment for me with Miss Callas, with me playing with her jewels. I think she perhaps thought of me a child, playing with a toy. We had a wonderful time discussing her favorite ones. All back in the case, I proceeded with her hair and make up. She dressed looking radiant and I left the yacht.

I was always aware that Mr. Onassis was nearby and saw him in the grand salon, in evening clothes, giving orders to his staff of stewards. He acknowledged me standing there and with his hand, bade me good night. The yacht was again filled with red American Beauty roses.