Written last night

I'm posting this in a great internet cafe just a few blocks from where the boat is docked. It is called the Drifter's Cafe and is filled with wonderful Errol Flynn memorabilia - I'll try to get a photo before I go.

Here's what I wrote last night which for some reason (I'm using Safari, not by choice) I can't cut and paste, so much for saving time:

This is day five of our cruise an already I'm restless. There's just too much of nothing to do if you know what I mean. And it's distracting me from my good resolutions - whatever they were. Today was an "at sea" day and we were in sight of the coast of Tasmania for most of it. We've seen lots of sea birds, including albatross (god knows what the plural of that is), and some dolphins cavorting near the ship. But nothing much happens besides eating and lounging around unless you are into ping-pong or bridge. So I'm forced to relax, wow what a concept that is. I don't actually think I'm doing that weel as I'm still sure I could be getting stuff done. Tomorrow I'll look for an internet cafe in Hobart where I can upload this entry and check email. I don't like feeling this cut off - please send messages!!!  Hope you enjoy the snaps of Catherine and me with the birds. M

Before landing in Hobart, Tasmania

Off the coast of Tasmania

We're on our way to Hobart and have been sailing off the coast of Tasmania all day. I'll keep this brief to save on my expensive minutes. We had a fun day in Melbourne yesterday and just saw enough to realize that there is too much to see! I am trying to get some work done but it isn't easy. I've realized that my way of working is so completely tied to having the internet right there that I'm stymied when I can just click and find the answer. Anyway - cheers to all and I'll write more if I can find an internet cafe in Hobart. M

written January 9 – at sea - posted from a Starbucks in Melbourne January 10!
It turns out to cost an arm and a leg to get connected to the net on board this banana boat so I’m going to keep it short until I get ashore and can find an internet café. I’m currently cruising along at 17.5 kph on the Tasman Sea just in sight of the coast of Australia. Sydney was wonderful although the weather turned yesterday and our first night at sea was bumpy. Here’s an excerpt of what I wrote to Manley:

This is a marvelous city with lots to see and the amazing thing is it seems to be all focused around the harbor. They have commuter ferries that you can get on for about $3.00 and the views are incredible. Our first day we walked from our hotel to the Opera House and it was great. The second day was for Catherine’s expedition to the shopping district. They have a couple of “malls” – interior spaces filled with shops but right in the heart of the business district – sort of like the old Arcade in Providence…

…The third day was the best by far. We had arranged for a car and driver for the day and he picked us up at 9am and we went first to a Koala Sanctuary in the suburbs. It was so much fun. We got to pet a koala and look at lots of other interesting animals and birds and then we fed some kangaroos (see the pictures). One kangaroo got right up in my face – an experience I will never forget!!!

…From there we drove to Manly and took the Manly ferry back to Circular Quay where we reunited with our driver and headed further out to a place called Watson’s Bay – home of a famous seafood restaurant called Doyle’s where we had a memorable lunch – the prices were staggering but I’ve seldom enjoyed a meal more. Then we headed to Bondi (pronounced bond-eye) Beach which is deservedly world-famous. It was a very hot day and the beach was completely swarming with people – mostly looking pretty buff – we would have stayed to ogle but we thought John the driver might think it odd. Coming back John drove us through various parts of the city and I got a really good look at some of the local architecture which I’m fascinated by – lots of cast iron railings used as decoration especially in the area known as Paddington.

… Yesterday we checked out of the hotel and were taken on a long bus tour arranged by the cruise line. We got another look at Bondi Beach and some more views of the city and suburbs. Finally we got to the ship and were processed and deposited in our “suite” – it isn’t huge but we have a large balcony with deck chairs and a tub in the bathroom which is extra nice. We had a snack lunch in the Terrace Room and then got unpacked. Then… after short but refreshing naps we went off to the Grand Dining Room for a late dinner. We had a table beside a window which a direct view of the Opera House so we got to watch the lights come on and change as it got darker – pretty much beyond description.

On our last day in Sydney we took a ferry to the Aquarium early enough to beat the holiday crowds and got a glimpse of the cute platypuses and the dugong (which looks like a manatee to me). Catherine was very happy with all the creatures, I could have left after the platypi!

Back at the ship we had our first lifeboat drill. I kept humming “Nearer my God to Thee” which I found vaguely comforting, while thinking of Molly Brown. It was so cold and windy by the time we sailed that it was hard to enjoy our last look at Sydney harbor. But I just kept drinking it all in with my eyes.

I’m going to try uploading a few photos to my Google pictures album but it may not be possible over this onboard connection so stay tuned for more. And now on to Melbourne.

Quick addenda from Melbourne - our tour this morning went up into the "mountains" which gave us some great views. Also had another encounter with native wildlife - birds this time - which I again fed out of my hand! Think Tippy Hedron with cockatoos!! Will write more from Hobart day after tomorrow - loving this trip! MM

Our second day

It is just fantastic here. Where else could you find a newspaper headline that actually says "Complaints beaver away at tampon ads"? Follow the link if you don't believe me!

Yesterday was another gorgeous day but a bit hotter than the first day. We had breakfast at the hotel and then set out to conquer the shopping arcades of central Sydney. Catherine thrives on retail-tourism but it isn't my favorite thing. We took a cab to the Pitt Street Mall which is a pedestrian area and went directly to the Borders - I kid you not. I wanted to see what Australian authors I could find and Catherine is ever in search of more magazines with pictures of Hugh Jackman. We made a few modest acquisitions. They are shockingly under stocked in any of the Australian writers I was looking for. One fortuitous find however was a book called 30 Days in Sydney by Australian ex-pat novelist Peter Carey. I'm already well into that one and it is fascinating. Catherine found about 4 lbs. of magazines which I then toted around - along with my books - next time we won't go to the bookstore first! Both the Pitt St. Mall and the Queen Victoria Building (or QVB as it is referred to here) have lots of up-market jewelry and antique shops - Catherine was in heaven, I was worn out much faster than usual. We made a stop for refreshment that enabled me to push on to yet one more mall but it was rough!

So without too much whining we wended our way back to our hill-top retreat. We had a refreshing swim in the hotel pool and then went to the spa for manicures and pedicures in preparation for the cruise. Thoroughly restored (well sort-of) we then headed out to Sydney's Chinatown area for supper at a restaurant that Cath had been longing to visit. I wasn't too keen at first but the food was definitely worth the trip.

This morning we woke up to overcast skies but still high temperatures. We're being picked up at 0-915 hours by our car and driver for an expedition out to the Koala sanctuary and then a tour of the outer Sydney beauty spots. Boy are we doing this in style!

Tomorrow we board the ship and that will mean getting repacked tonight but then we will be safely ensconced and won't have to worry about the luggage for 15 days. Here are a few snaps from the shopping expedition!

We're here

Safely arrived, tired but ready to explore. The flight out was indeed endless but being in Business Class was great. The seats reclined completely and we each had our own entertainment console with a 15" screen and lots of movies, TV and computer games to choose from. I watched two movies and then slept and read. We were whisked through customs and into a car laid on by the cruise company and so were at the hotel by about 10AM Sunday morning (having left LA at about 10PM Friday). So we left our luggage and set out to explore.

The Shangri La Hotel is up above the harbor and the hills are quite reminiscent of San Francisco. There are stairs everywhere and Catherine isn't able to manage them too well (nor am I come to that). We found our way down to Circular Quay. The weather is spectacular and the air is so fresh - hard to believe it is January. Our first purchase was sunscreen - yes, we brought some but it was still in our bags naturally. We had a great time leisurely making our way along the Quay with various stops for shopping and finally arriving at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar where we parked ourselves and worked our way through a wide variety of local seafood.

Much refreshed we then staggered on to the Opera House. Can we talk steps??? As we were clearly nearing the end of our day one stamina we explore the ground level of the Opera House complex until we found the stage door. There the door-keeper summoned a minion who conducted us to an elevator and up to the box office level. Because this is school holiday time and thus high season not a ticket to be had but we did make a few select purchases in the shop.

Back down the elevator, courtesy of the same charming young man, and then out to explore the stalls that were set up along the way. We chatted with a local photographer who already had some spectacular color views of the fireworks from New Year's Eve. He told us about his adventures taking the images and how he spent the last two days rushing them into print. We bought postcards from him and they are really neat.

Finally into a cab and back to the hotel where we finally got into our room. So we feel like we are off to a great start. More to follow.

Not quite there yet

Well, we got as far as LA safely and had a good night's sleep at the Westin LAX. Our flight to Syndey doesn't leave until 10pm so we are lounging around the hotel today and not bothered by the fog/smog that seems to be socked in here. Once I successfully navigated the internet hookup here (thanks Linnea, the little connector thing is great) I have been checking the Australian papers and it seems to be pretty warm down there. They are concerned with global warming and that is an issue that appears in all their papers and like us they are concerned that the changes in the economy mean that potential retirees are working longer. Their slide shows on the news pages seem to be more fun than ours, today's included a Canadian couple in wedding garb in the surf in Vancouver, and this wonderful view of Siberian tigers performing in China.