A Day At sea

Sunday February 28, 2010 Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. We were supposed to dock at 7 am. But shortly before the Captain made an announcement that due to the earthquake in Chile and the tsunami warning for the entire Pacific basin we are not permitted to go ashore and that we will be staying at sea until at least noon. We currently have 100 ft. Of water beneath us. I received an e-mail from John Donaldson, the private guide I had hired for the day for our trip up the sunshine coast and to the Glass Mountains expressing his regrets that we would not be spending the day together. He also sent me his family name relatives in Scotland to see if we may be related. I will have to check this out when we return home and get back to him. After breakfast, we spent the morning relaxing on our balcony and watching all the tankers in Moerton’s Bay which is a huge bay with the estuary flowing into Brisbane. At noon the captain gave the update that the tsunami warning was still in place and that the Australian Government had closed the port of Brisbane until at least 3 pm at which time he would make another announcement. We spent the afternoon at the pool. It was hot and sunny and I ended up burning despite the sunscreen. At 4:15 we got the all clear, and began the 3 ½ hr journey into city but this will be a bunkering for fuel only and we are expected to leave port around midnight.. What a beautiful port this would have been. The sand beaches along the sail in were absolutely beautiful and it is a shame we never got to see them up close and personal and unfortunately we will probably never travel these waters again. We changed our dining times today so that we will eat our late meal at 6 pm instead of 8:30. The last 2 nights we haven’t finished eating until after 10 pm and that is much too late for us. Our tablesmates are Aussie and British and what a jolly bunch they are.

A Day At Sea

Saturday, February 27, 2010 A Day At Sea
There was a bit of swell during the night and it rocked me to sleep at least for a while. I was wide awake around 3 am so I went out on the balcony. The night sky was clear and the stars glittered like diamonds but I didn’t recognize any. All of a sudden this big arc appeared like a rainbow only white and it started and ended in the water. It appeared to come closer to the ship and it got brighter and then suddenly it began to rain. It lasted maybe 10 minutes then faded and the stars came out again. It was strange and I have never seen anything like it before. I went for a walk this morning on the walking track. I really felt invorigated. Maybe I’ll come home in shape ha ha.. After exploring around the ship a bit I went to connect my computer to wifi and it’s going to be rather pricey doing the blog over the internet so I’ll do it in a word document and there probably won’t be as many pictures as it takes too long to load. Our cruise critic group got together this morning for about an hour for a “meet and mingle”. It was nice to chat with those I had been chatting with online for the last year and put faces to a name. Most are from England, Scotland & Australia. What a small world we really live in. Royal Caribbean hosted the event for us and provided drinks and finger foods. The afternoon was spent by the pool sunning and swimming. Even Dun went for a dip. I spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing on the balcony, reading, finishing off my bottle of wine from last night while Dun had a nap. I am thankful for how lucky I really am to be able to do this great trip. There really is no words to describe the feeling of sitting on the balcony watching the waves in total quiet with no worries in the world ( at least for a while). Linda you would enjoy the total relaxation and some day we will do a trip. Formal Night tonight and the Captain’s welcome aboard reception Time to get all gussied up. We had the great privilege of meeting and having our picture taken with the Master of the “Rhapsody of Seas” Rick Sullivan who is Canadian and hails from the shores of Great Lakes. He told us he was recently in PEI for his nephew’s wedding and he knows the Atlantic Provinces well. He is a jolly chap with a great sense of humour. Later in the evening we attended the Front Liner show, had drinks with some Aussies before retiring for the night. All in all it was a great day at sea.

Our Cruise begins

Friday February 26, 2010 Sydney, Australia
We arrived at the cruise terminal at 11 am by taxi and it would have been much quicker walking but with four pieces of luggage we opted for the taxi. There was a long line up and everyone seemed to be confused. If only they would read the signs. We got priority boarding status because of our number of cruises with Royal Caribbean and we were on board within an hour. There was more paper work this time because of the Visa’s required for Papua New Guinea and the health statements for Swine Flu. By noon we were having lunch at the Windjammer Buffet and as always there was more than plenty to choose from and as we are not fussy eaters it all tasted wonderful. After lunch, I went to the wine desk to purchase my wine package for the cruise. It is the first time for me doing this, but when priced out, it is much cheaper than purchasing at the table and you can bring the bottle back to your room which I will enjoy while sitting on our balcony at sunset looking out over the water. Yeah, I know romantic thoughts. The rooms opened up at 1 pm and we got to see our suite. Love it, love it. Deck 8, Aft. Suite # 8580. We have bathrobes in the suite and a big bathroom. Our Platinum Coupon Books are in our room. We are having a passing shower outside but I don’t really care. We are on the ship that I booked over 1 ½ years ago. I think I need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. Luggage arrived an hour later and I began the task of unpacking. I’m tired of dealing with clothes. This is the 2nd time today. After the first suitcase, I sort of had a mild meltdown. Dun was stretched out on the couch resting (he needed it because he hauled the luggage from the taxi to the porters). I asked him to store the suitcase under the bed & he thought he’d do it after a rest. I lost it & stomped out to the balcony & told him in no uncertain terms he could finish the unpacking and not to leave a mess. After a smoke, I relaxed, went back in and sure enough the suitcase was under the bed so I finished the unpacking. We’re friends again! Muster Drill was at 5 pm and sail away at 6:30. Sailing out Sydney Harbour was nostalgic. I fell in love with this city . All the sail boats in the harbour were so scenic. It took an hour to get to open water. We are now on our way. We wandered around the ship a bit but spent most of the evening sitting on our balcony. There is nothing like the sound of the ocean and the quietness. We are late seating for dinner (8:30) so by the time we were through eating it was 10 pm. Our tablemates are 2 ladies from Melburne and one of them looks exactly like my cousin Sandra Cook. The other couple are oldies from Sydney and the first impression was that they were very stuffy but the gentleman actually ended up being a case. We came back to the room shortly after and sit on the balcony for a while before heading to bed. The couples on each side of us are Canadians...one couple from Vancouver and the other couple from Burlington Ontario.

Today is the Day

Last night we spent our last evening in this beautiful city. I wonderful why time flies when you're having fun? We strolled through the "Rocks" area and ended up at a small cafe called "Old Vintage Cafe". Soft music was playing and it was so romantic. Yes I am a romantic at heart. This "old girl" still has it. The meal was wonderful. I will never forget this beautiful city. It is one of the best places we have ever traveled and I feel so fortunate to have been able to come here. Travelers are generally friendly and we have not met a rude person all week. The hotel staff have been more than helpful and one morning while we were waiting for our tour guide, a tour company pulled up outside the lobby area which I thought was ours and when I asked the driver he told me we were not on his tour and then he asked if I had the companies phone # and then proceeded to call them on his cell. How kind & thoughtful is that. We have had this type of help all week from total strangers.It is this type of of thing that you remember about a place. These people know how to give great service and we could learn a few thing from them. Now it is time to pack up our suitcases. We will board the ship around noon today (Friday)and we leave port at 6 pm. We will be at sea all day tomorrow and our first port of call will be Brisbane. Not sure of the internet service while at sea but will post when I can. Have a great evening Mates in NS, and my family in US

A Day in the Royal Botanical Gardens

We had a beautiful morning for a stroll in the gardens. It was 24 degrees when we left the hotel as we strolled the streets to get to the gardens. It is located just beyond the Opera House and covers a large area. It was a relaxing morning. I thought there would be more flowers but perhaps it's because it is the beginning of fall here. There were lots of statues and huge open spaces and large trees. We exited the park near the entrance to the Harbor Bridge and continued to the waterfront where we had a late lunch before heading back to the hotel. Dun needed a nap and wanted to watch the hockey game. I wonder if I'm tiring him out? I was getting antsy, so headed out on my own to do some shopping. Bought some shirts for Lucas, Hannah, Jack & Josh and a few other trinkets and on the way back I stopped at a street cafe for a beer to cool off. What a beautiful, vibrant city. We have only touched the surface and there are many things we didn't get to see. I would have liked to visit Bondi & Manly Beaches as well as the Sydney Aquarium but there just isn't enough time. tonight I want to stroll the "Rocks" area which is the old part of the city and near where we board the cruise tomorrow.

A Day of Sweet Delight

Woke up this morning to overcast skies. The Hunter Valley is a two hour drive from Sydney so we had to leave here at 7:45 am. The disappointing part of the day was that our driver was a young kid and to him it was just a job...the guide makes all the difference in the world to an enjoyable day..and our van was worse than economy class on a plane . This is the first private tour I have booked in all our time traveling that didn't meet our expectations. The wineries themselves were wonderful. We did 4 boutique wineries and Lindeman's/Rosemount. At each winery we tasted with 3 samples of white wines, 3 of red, a port wine and dessert wine. Oh my, I was rather tipsy and must say it didn't feel too bad. I bought a special bottle at Lindemans.A show Reserve McLaren Vale GSM Trophy Gold Medal. It had a wonderful taste in the sipping so will crack it open tomorrow night. We also did some cheese tasting which would have been better had it been paired with the wine. I'm afraid Dun didn't really enjoy the day. He hates wine but bless his heart he didn't complain and we were gone from 8 am til 6:30. Needless to say, he had a Rum & coke as soon as we came back to the hotel. I'm rather mellow right now so will go rest a bit before we head out on the waterfront.

Remembrance and Celebration

Today I remember. It was three years ago today that Mom passed away.Although the pain does not go away, the memories seem to become more vivid and precious. It is on a day like today that I need to celebrate her life not her passing. For my friends that have last their Mom, they will know what I mean. I am fortunate to have inherited two very obvious traits. Everyday when I look in the mirror, it is her face I see looking back at me. The other is her love of travel.She often told me "I was born with a wheel up my ass" and thank you Mom...that came from you. Words alone cannot express my sadness, so today I am going to celebrate her life and the woman that she was in my own way by visiting the special vineyards of Eastern Australia and testing a bit of the sweet nectar. With each sip it will be in tribute to her and all that she did for us. Although she probably would not approve of me doing this I can hear her loud laugh and hear her say "Oh Toddie". My only regret is not being with Gil today. My heart & love is with him. I love you Dad, and I am thinking of you not only on this day but each day we are away. I have chosen well in the man I love and who walks beside me on this journey through life. Today will be a tribute to you all

A Day on the Waterfront

This morning we started out with no definite plans. We began strolling along the waterfront as far as the Overseas Passenger Terminal. This is where we will board the "Rhapsody of Seas" on Friday. We then began walking in the opposite direction and we stopped to watch an Aborigine performing with a didgeridoo. We then booked a harbor lunch cruise with" Majestic Cruises" which was leaving within 15 minutes. The cruise around the harbor gives a different perspective of the city. It was windy, blowing 40 mph and the temperature was 25 degrees with 60% humidity which Lunch was tasty with lots of shrimp, oysters, salads, fruit and other desserts. We then walked to the Opera House to pick up our tickets for tonight's performance "A Man in Black"before heading back to the Marriott for a rest before heading out for the evening. I love having my laptop with me and being able to keep in contact with family and friends. Miss you Gil and we're having a wonderful time in one of the world's most beautiful cities.

Boomerangs

Yesterday on our tour our guide Steve told us about Boomerangs. He said there were some for left handed and some for right handed people. He also said some were made to come back while others weren't. He also told us what to look for when purchasing one. We then went to a big field where he did a demonstration on the proper way to hold it. It has to do with the wind and the angle. I always wondered if they really came back and they sure do. Will have to practice when we get home.

Blue Mountains

Last evening we walked along Circular Quay and over to the opera house. What a beautiful place this is. We had an early start today for our tour to the Blue Mountains.This is the Grand Canyon of Australia although not quite as grand. We were picked up at 7:45 and our first stop along the way was Featherdale Wildlife Park. I'm not normally a fan of wildlife parks as they are usually over rated and you can't get close to the animals but this one was fantastic. We got up close to the kangaroos, Wallabies and Wombats and we got to pet the Koalas. Took lots of pictures. We even saw a couple Kangaroos with the Joey in the pouch. From here we went to Wentworth Falls where you could walk down 240 steps & do a bush walk up close to the falls. No I didn't do this but Dun did and he said his legs were a bit sore after.From here we stopped at the small town of Leura better known as Garden Village for lunch. They sure don't give the food away. Over $32 for French toast and water and this was the cheapest on the menu. We were now in the heart of the mountains Next stop was the Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point followed by a scenic Sky tram across a deep gorge with waterfalls. We then took a steep railway tour straight down into the mountain and we walked along the rainforest floor before taking a cablecar back to the top of the mountain On our way back to the city we stopped at the site of the Sydney Olympics and from here we took the rivercat along the Parammeta River traveling under the Sydney Harbour Bridge ending at Circular Quay around 6 pm. This was a fun packed busy day and not one I will soon forget. We later walked down along the waterfront for supper at an outside cafe where we were joined by a couple from Ontario. One thing I have noticed is how friendly the Aussies are. They go out of their way to assist total strangers on the street. Well it's time to call it a night. got to get rested for tomorrows activities.

Exploring Sydney

We left for a few hours to do some exploring of this beautiful city and we just scratched the surface. We caught the "Sydney Explorer" hop on hop off bus to give us an overview. A few of the stops we made was at Mrs. Macquarie's chair where you can see a beautiful picture of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, Chinatown, and a stop at Paddy's market. bought a hat, sunglasses and a few boomerangs (wonder who they be for?. We then continued to the "Rocks" and the Sydney Fish Market. No haddock here...but lots of Prawns, Oysters, Rock Lobsters & Salmon.. We just came back to the hotel to rest a bit & cool off. It's 30 degrees outside & my body needs to adjust from being cold to being hot. That shouldn't be to0 hard but I don't want to overdue it too much at first.

The Eagle has landed

I'm all mixed up in time but it doesn't really matter because we're on vacation. I'm so hyper and wish my body could keep up with my mind. We left the Hilton last night around 7 pm. We spent our time at the airport in the Red Carpet Lounge of United Airlines because we are flying Business Class. How awesome...free drinks and snacks and no crowds. Don't think I'll be able to fly regular class again. We were on the plane and taxing down the runway around 9 pm. We were on a big doubledecker bird. After settling in we were served more drinks followed by a huge meal and nice Australian red wine for me and of course rum & coke for Dun. Slept the entire night and woke up for breakfast. Shortest 14 hr flight ever.United are giving us Aeroplan Points for the delayed flight and lose of a day. The heat sure felt great when we left the airport. Got a shuttle bus to the Marriott on the waterfront much cheaper than a taxi. At checkin I was told because we lost our first night here, I could upgrade to a suite for $100 Au...no problem on this decision. Going to unpack a few things, have a shower then head out to explore the city. Were really excited after 1 1/2 years of planning...GDay Mates.

Not Quite in Oz

We left home around 6 am and got to the airport shortly after 9 am.Thanks to Renee we don't have to leave our car in Halifax. Uneventful flights to Chicago and LA. Flying Business class is awesome especially with the better seats and real meals. We were scheduled for a 5 hr wait in LA which extended to another hour delay due to something wrong with the computers that give the fuel readings. They eventually started loading the 374 passengers and those in Business class were first. Wow what comfort. We were in little enclosures and the seats lay flat. We were given little packets with comfy socks and eye masks, large pillows and blankets. Our TV's have remote controls. After settling in we were served champagne, orange juice and water.Traveling economy class will never be the same again because now I know how the other side lives. Now we are all set for the 14 hr flight....except the Captain came on and told us the problem with the computers was back so we were gong to be staying in LA until the following night.The plane with our luggage is being sent to San Fransisco to be repaired,so off we go back to the terminal. They separated us in different groups (I think by ticket class but not sure) and we were sent by shuttles to hotels for the night with late checkout at 7 pm the following day. We were also given food vouchers for breakfast and dinner. We're at the Hilton. Don't mind it at all as I was really tired from not sleeping the night before and I had been awake for over 24 hours.I did place a call to the Marriott in Sydney to advise them we would be a day late arriving as this was booked by priceline and if we did not show up by the scheduled the entire 6 night stay would be cancelled.They assured me we would be ok. I sure hope so.Had a great night's sleep & now I'm raring to go again. Til later mates

4 More Sleeps

Almost ready to go. The packing is done. Tonight a haircut and streaks are on the agenda. Tomorrow night new fingernails, pedicure and facial.All the plans are in place. I just need to get on the plane & relax. I have been planning for 1 1/2 years and at times I thought I might have to cancel but now it is so so close and I am so hyper and excited.I'm sure I won't sleep much between now & Thursday. It's a good thing I have the Olympics to watch late at night. My next post will be from Oz. Sydney is 15 hrs ahead of us so it will be Feb 20th down under but Feb 19th here. Until then my friends.

My Lucky Day

I started our the day really good and it got better as the day moved along. Two weeks from today and we will be settled into our room at the Marriott Circular Quay. I did a lot of the cumbersome but necessary things today....I called MasterCard and advised them of my travel dates so the card won't be blocked for out of country purchases.I notified the Canadian consulate for travel abroad so we are now registered with them. Our clothes are all sorted. I'll iron and do some packing tomorrow.The best thing happened today. I was looking at the Royal Caribbean International Website at our reservation to see what their wine packages looked like when I noticed our reservation had changed. We got a complimentary upgrade from our D1 balcony cabin to a Junior suite. I thought something must be wrong so I called and sure enough we definitely got upgraded. The cabin will be a lot bigger especially the bathroom area. The only thing I didn't care for was the location which is mid ship.It's not a bad location but I prefer the aft balcony as there's more of a view. I did a dummy booking, there was one Junior suite left and it is an aft corner suite so I called back and the RCI travel planner changed me to the aft junior suite. I am so excited now. I've been looking at web shots all evening for a picture to post here but so far I can't locate one . I'll surely have sweet dreams tonight. I can't believe my luck. I can now picture myself laying on the lounger, relaxing with a good book and a "tall one" Bring it on!

I'm so cold

Today I am so cold but the temps "down under" give me a nice warm feeling. Brisbane is 79 & Sydney is 73 and these are mid morning temps.Did some reading on the Virtual Tourist site. I collect Christmas tree ornaments from the places I travel and I found a nice shop in Sydney. They are easy & light weight to pack and when I look at my Christmas tree each year it brings back all the wonderful memories of where I've traveled. It is recommended that you where a hat when outside. I was planning on getting one in Los Angeles airport but I've now changed my mind. I'm going to purchase an "Aussie hat" at Paddy's Market in Haymarket the day we land. Still not packed but I still 17 days. I usually procrastinate and do this chore about 2 nights before. I do have my packing list complete so that is the hardest part. Good night Mates