2011 Cruise, Day 29-31

Sunday, October 16, 2011, Last Day At Sea, Day 29


Ship's position S37°12.18' E156°15.63'.

A lot of today was spent getting ready to disembark. We had to get suitcases out right after supper.

Gerri went to a towel folding demonstration and I picked up pictures that we had printed of our table party.

We had lunch in the dining room with, Tim, Beth, Mike and Brenda. After lunch we watched an egg drop contest. Passengers built something around an egg and the egg with packaging was dropped two floors in the atrium. Most of the eggs survived the drop, there were several very clever ways of protecting the eggs during the drop.

After doing some of our packing we went to see a passenger talent show. It was very good, there is a lot of talent on board.

At supper we said our goodbyes. Listened to Sammy for awhile. We then went back to the cabin and packed another bag. Our other two bags will go with us, Valuables, computers, camera and medicine.

Ship's position S34°49.03' S152°47.43'.



Monday, October 17, 2011, Sydney, Day 30

We arrived at Sydney before dawn. Our departure time was 7:30. We got our bags and went trough customs and then onto our tour bus. We toured the City including the Sydney Opera House and then were dropped off at the Four Seasons Hotel. After check in and our bags were delivered, I checked out the internet system in the hotel. It was $25.00 for 24 hours. Way too much for our needs, shades of Cabo. Paying by 24 hour periods is worse than the per minute charge. At least by the minute you aren't paying while asleep or during other activities.

I went out to see if I could find a cache or two. Caching between the buildings is like caching in a slot canyon. I found one cache I could almost see from our room, and picked up two travel bugs. I looked for another by the 5 quays a couple of blocks from the hotel, No luck.

I bought fish and chips and took them back to the hotel, Gerri said she wasn't going out.

After eating I went back out trying to find caches. I found the park described in the cache description. The description said the cache was within ten yards of the obelisk in the park. I didn't find this one either. I went back down to the quay area and located the information on a virtual cache.

Back at the hotel, we watched some TV, tried Sudoku puzzles and read until bedtime. We have an all day tour to the Blue Mountains tomorrow morning.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011, Sydney, Day 31

Up early for our Blue Mountain tour. The tour started at 9, it repeated some of the sights we saw on the city tour yesterday. Our first stop was a wildlife park. At the park we saw all kinds of animals and birds that live in Australia; Grey Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies, Red-Necked Wallabies, Wombats, Echindas, Wallaroos, Koalas, Emus, Pea Fowl, Black Cockatoos, White Cockatoos, Dingos, Budgerigars, Cassowaries, Galahs, Possums and a variety of small and medium sized birds. We also saw another sheep shearing demonstration, this one had more information than the one we saw in New Zealand. Here was also a demonstration throwing boomerangs. Boomerangs had different uses. Some were for actually killing game and others were used to scare up and run game toward the hunters.

Our next stop was the Blue Mountains and a visit to a rainforest area. We rode a cable car down and walked through the area. There used to be coal mines in the area and there was a funicular railroad that used to take coal to the top. We rode the rail car up and had lunch at the revolving restaurant.

On the way back to Sydney we stopped at the area where the 2000 Olympics were held.

Back at the hotel We walked down to the Circular Quay and took pictures of the Opera House across the bay. We also bought souvenirs and postcards.

Back in our room, we relaxed. It is doubtful we will be going out again. With the late lunch we may not have supper, we aren't on the ship now. Some TV, reading and Sudoku and we called it a night.