Monday, February 27, 2012–Day 52 and Tuesday, February 28, 2012–Day 53…At Sea

We’ve been experiencing overcast days on the sea with intermittent showers the past two days.  We are scheduled to port in Cairns, Australia in the morning and this was our chance to swim in the Great Barrier Reef.  With the water churned from the rainfall, we are told snorkeling/scuba diving would not be good.  So we’re just going to go ashore and punt! 

We laid around the last two days trying to heal my ankle. The pool, even with occasional showers, was the perfect place to read and relax! If we slowed down any more, we would be walking backwards!

Cairns is where Melena spent time studying last summer.  It’s unfortunate our stay can’t be longer as she experienced so much here. Makes me think of my little princess and miss her even more.

Sunday, February 26, 2012–Day 51 Part II, Sydney Australia

Sydney Wildlife World, offers a peep into the existence of a myriad of flora and fauna found in the rain-forests, bushes, swamps and deserts of Australia. There are over 6000 species of animals, endemic to their respective environs. There are cassowary, koala, kangaroo, bearded dragons, golden orb spiders, butterflies, pythons and the list goes on.

The thrill of our day was up up close encounter with the Koala. The Koala sleeps 20 hours a day and has fur just like a sheep. Their paws are very dexterous. Jolly the Walrus got a chance to sit on a Koala’s lap.

We hopped back on the “Hop On-Hop Off bus and headed to the Sydney Tower.  On the bus we met a brave young lady traveling alone, named Hailey, from Canada. (Hailey, I didn’t get your email but post on the blog and we can keep in touch!)

Sydney Tower or AMP Tower has 360 degrees of Sydney's best views. It takes just 40 seconds for the double-decker lifts to reach the 304-meter summit, where you can take advantage of free guided tours.

Darling Harbour is one big showcase of fun and entertainment. Once a thriving dockland, it was redeveloped in 1988 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia and began with the construction of a large exhibition and conference center, which has been complemented with the addition of shops, restaurants and other attractions. The huge waterfront tourist and leisure park literally hums with its emphasis on family entertainment. Highlights include Sydney Aquarium , the Australian National Maritime Museum , the Chinese Garden , Star City Casino, the enormous IMAX Cinema and the Powerhouse Museum .

This is the stranger that ran up and kissed me!

On Sunday we went to The Rocks and shopped after hanging out in McDonalds doing emails and making calls.

 

We bought this bracelet, it’s 3,000,000,000 years old.

Saturday, February 25, 2012–Day 50 Sydney Australia

We woke up early and excited to go ashore after 4 long days at sea!  Our first sight was the city of Sydney – strung out like a large metropolitan city.  It was a weekend so there were thousands of sail boats and other boats in the Channel. Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. It is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea with a population of 4.6 million people.The site of the first British colony in Australia, Sydney was established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, commodore of the First Fleet as a penal colony. When the prison was opened, over 50% were women! The city is built on hills surrounding Port Jackson which is commonly known as Sydney Harbour, where we docked the Amsterdam, our ship. Just across from the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches, where clothing and swimsuits are optional. Within the city are many notable parks, including Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world's widest long-span bridge. It is also the fifth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 440 feet from top to water level.

Fourteen troubled years in the building, and 95 million over budget, the controversial sail-like roofs of Sydney's most recognizable icon, The Sydney Opera House, glistens against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Danish architect Jorn Utzon has reportedly never laid eyes on his masterpiece, resigning in 1966 due to political difficulties and construction delays—it was finally finished in 1973. It now has an impressive yearly program of up to 3000 contemporary and classical performances and it was a truly memorable place to visit for us. We enjoyed a beautiful view of the Sydney Opera House from the sea. Jolly, the Walrus, also enjoyed the view!

We were welcomed at Darling Harbour Pier by Australian bagpipers. We took the ship’s shuttle to downtown Sydney and boarded the Hop On – Hop Off tour bus and headed out to explore Sydney.

After the tour bus, we began to explore Sydney by foot, what a wonderful experience.

Then we took a journey through Sydney’s Aquarium, and saw some of Australia's rich and diverse marine ecosystems and discovered the world's largest collection of all-Australian aquatic life, with over 12,000 marine animals. We walked in an underwater tunnel and came face to face with dozens of fierce sharks, giant rays, a ferocious saltwater crocodile. For the fainter of heart, watched playful seals, a platypus, and adorable penguins. Sydney Aquarium is home to the largest Great Barrier Reef exhibit in the world and interactive touch pools that feel just like being at Sydney's sea-side rock pools.

to be continued…..