Tuesday morning we again had breakfast of eggs benedict. We are eating well here in the Carleton area, known for its restaurants. What a place to stay! We are walking so much that we need the fuel.
After missing the visitor bus we walked a considerable distance to Federation Square to the Melbourne Motion Picture Industry museum. This intractive museum was a lot of fun as we saw how strobe lights create motion effects and recorded ourselves seeming to float. There are lots of tricks. The museum was good...and it was free.
Outside in Federation Square some people were already encamped, ready to view the Melbourne Cup on a huge screen. Pre-Melbourne Cup interviews and predictions were showing at noon...with the race scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Unfortunately, the cup favorite, Emirraque, died shortly after the race. This has generated much controversy about abuse of horses. A second horse had to be put-down after it broke its leg when spooked by someone waving a flag. SAD! SAD! SAD!
We took the visitor bus to the Melbourne Museum and then walked back to our hotel for a nap.
Tuesday evening...we boarded The Colonial Tramcar Dinner Tour, an old tram restaurant car, for a wonderful tour and great dinner. This daily operation has pre-booked seating in an old tram car. Based on our good frirnds' recommendations we had made reservations for this journey. It was well worth it. We boarded around 5:45 p.m. and were seated at a table for four with Tom and Dianne with Larry and Val across the narrow isle. The tables were complete with linens and settings that reminded us of old times. Beginning with champagne, we had appetizers followed by a choice of main entree. The wines were very goood, the service was very personal and good. The tram lines tookk us south into some residential neighborhoods and we enjoyed viewing the old residences, and amusement park and the bay.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Melbourne
Sunday, November 2..in Carleton area of Melbourne. This is an area where Italians settled in the early days. There are so may wonderful resturants it is hard to choose where to eat. Lygon Street is on the back side of the block on which our hotel is located.
We caught the hop-on/hop-off Visitor Shuttle, a very convenient shuttle bus that runs around the city. It is very prompt with a bus every 30 minutes. It is supposed to cost $5 per day with ticket machines at each of the 13 stops or at the Visitor Center. The ticket machines take only coins or credit cards. We had tried to purchase tickets by credit card...with no luck, so we boarded at the #5 stop on Lygon Street with the driver saying, "No matter, Mate, just get a ticket at another stop." So off we went. At another stop when the driver said we would wait a couple minutes, we again tried to buys tickets using our cards, as none of us had the requisite coinage...but, again it did not work, so we again boarded the bus and rode the complete loop, which takes about 90 minutes. The tour is guided with both the driver and recorded commentary about the sights we were passing. Only trouble was that our driver spoke so fast that we could barely understand his Australian English. But the brochure helped. And the recorded commentary was very clear. With this overview of the city we began planning our next three days. At another stop, we again trird to buy tickets on credit card, slowely realizing that the driver did not give a damn and that the machines were not working for credit cards on Sunday. So we rode for free.
We wanted to see the Queen Victoria Market, in existence since 1878. It is a very large market place with produce and food on one side and merchandise on another and attracts both locals and tourists. We spent about two hours there...taking photos and talking to merchants.
We decided to walk from Victoria Market to the Old Melbourne Goal. A Crime and Justice Experience, which had been recommended to Becky by the young French woman on the plane from Hamilton Island. This old jail was in use until 1994. Tom, Dianne, Val and Becky took the tour. Paul and Larry decided to continue on back to the hotel. The jail tour included signage about Melbourne's most notorious prisoners with extensive signage and photos. In a near by building that contianed the holding cells, we were participants in a mock lock-up and decriptions of what one whould go though, if arrested. Photos for a wedding were taking place in a gtassy area outside the jail. Remember: Australia was settle by many criminals...shipped here from England and Europe.
After the "goal" experience, we walked back to our hotel. After wine in Larry and Val's room we headed out to dinner at the University Hotel on Lygon Street, a most delicious Italian eatery. The veal special was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Also, two bottles of wine at only $18 per bottle; the best wine we've had so far on our trip.
Two couples at the next table weere in from Perth for the Melbourne Cup, a horse race that is a national event. Most all Australians we have encountered are very helpful and very friendly. We chatted, they took photos of all of us. We learned what a big even the Melbourne Cup really is. It's a public holiday.
Monday morning Paul and I set out early to eat breakfast and then to the post ofice to get a box so we could mail some extra stuff from the tropical sailing trip back to California by seal mail. After that we again caught the hop-on bus...free because of the holiday to see the parade that started at 12 noon.
We caught the hop-on/hop-off Visitor Shuttle, a very convenient shuttle bus that runs around the city. It is very prompt with a bus every 30 minutes. It is supposed to cost $5 per day with ticket machines at each of the 13 stops or at the Visitor Center. The ticket machines take only coins or credit cards. We had tried to purchase tickets by credit card...with no luck, so we boarded at the #5 stop on Lygon Street with the driver saying, "No matter, Mate, just get a ticket at another stop." So off we went. At another stop when the driver said we would wait a couple minutes, we again tried to buys tickets using our cards, as none of us had the requisite coinage...but, again it did not work, so we again boarded the bus and rode the complete loop, which takes about 90 minutes. The tour is guided with both the driver and recorded commentary about the sights we were passing. Only trouble was that our driver spoke so fast that we could barely understand his Australian English. But the brochure helped. And the recorded commentary was very clear. With this overview of the city we began planning our next three days. At another stop, we again trird to buy tickets on credit card, slowely realizing that the driver did not give a damn and that the machines were not working for credit cards on Sunday. So we rode for free.
We wanted to see the Queen Victoria Market, in existence since 1878. It is a very large market place with produce and food on one side and merchandise on another and attracts both locals and tourists. We spent about two hours there...taking photos and talking to merchants.
We decided to walk from Victoria Market to the Old Melbourne Goal. A Crime and Justice Experience, which had been recommended to Becky by the young French woman on the plane from Hamilton Island. This old jail was in use until 1994. Tom, Dianne, Val and Becky took the tour. Paul and Larry decided to continue on back to the hotel. The jail tour included signage about Melbourne's most notorious prisoners with extensive signage and photos. In a near by building that contianed the holding cells, we were participants in a mock lock-up and decriptions of what one whould go though, if arrested. Photos for a wedding were taking place in a gtassy area outside the jail. Remember: Australia was settle by many criminals...shipped here from England and Europe.
After the "goal" experience, we walked back to our hotel. After wine in Larry and Val's room we headed out to dinner at the University Hotel on Lygon Street, a most delicious Italian eatery. The veal special was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Also, two bottles of wine at only $18 per bottle; the best wine we've had so far on our trip.
Two couples at the next table weere in from Perth for the Melbourne Cup, a horse race that is a national event. Most all Australians we have encountered are very helpful and very friendly. We chatted, they took photos of all of us. We learned what a big even the Melbourne Cup really is. It's a public holiday.
Monday morning Paul and I set out early to eat breakfast and then to the post ofice to get a box so we could mail some extra stuff from the tropical sailing trip back to California by seal mail. After that we again caught the hop-on bus...free because of the holiday to see the parade that started at 12 noon.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Hamilton Island to Melbourne
It was very hot in Shute Harbor, Hamilton Island as we docked on Friday, October 31st. Ran the A/C but it did not satisfy in our port, forward cabin.
Up very early Saturday morning to make coffee, toast and scrambled eggs. Then clean up and the last minute scramble to get everything into our bags. We said "goodbye" to Alida, our 38'4" catamaran.
We headed to the airport around 8:30 to enable use of free WiFi...and real A/C. With eight planes leaving Hamilton Saturday morning the place was eventually a mad house. But we were first in line. Got checked in...through security and got a table for six.
Our flight to Melbourne was uneventful. Paul and I slept. Landing was the roughest, most tippy I have every encountered, due to rain bursts happening in Melbourne. Temperature when we landed was 14 C/57 F. It had been a rainy day for this city.
We caught a maxi-taxi from the airport to our hotel, A Best Western The Travel Inn Hotel at the corner of Grotton and Drumond Streets. It's a small hotel in the Carlton area...Italian, students and plenty of small eateries and fun shops.
Paul and Larry went out to find some wine, which we enjoyed in Larry and Val's room before walking to the restaurant. On the other side of the block the boys had found DOC, an Italian pasta restaurant. Just ask a local who is walking his dog is Paul's method. DOC turned out to be an excellent choice. We enjoyed a glass of wine and excellent food.
At 6:26 a.m. I have been up for an hour. The sky is clear high up. Seems it may be a mostly clear day. but temps only to go up to 59 F. (I was wrong in e-mail, sent earlier.) Looking forwward to a fun day of exploring Melbourne
Up very early Saturday morning to make coffee, toast and scrambled eggs. Then clean up and the last minute scramble to get everything into our bags. We said "goodbye" to Alida, our 38'4" catamaran.
We headed to the airport around 8:30 to enable use of free WiFi...and real A/C. With eight planes leaving Hamilton Saturday morning the place was eventually a mad house. But we were first in line. Got checked in...through security and got a table for six.
Our flight to Melbourne was uneventful. Paul and I slept. Landing was the roughest, most tippy I have every encountered, due to rain bursts happening in Melbourne. Temperature when we landed was 14 C/57 F. It had been a rainy day for this city.
We caught a maxi-taxi from the airport to our hotel, A Best Western The Travel Inn Hotel at the corner of Grotton and Drumond Streets. It's a small hotel in the Carlton area...Italian, students and plenty of small eateries and fun shops.
Paul and Larry went out to find some wine, which we enjoyed in Larry and Val's room before walking to the restaurant. On the other side of the block the boys had found DOC, an Italian pasta restaurant. Just ask a local who is walking his dog is Paul's method. DOC turned out to be an excellent choice. We enjoyed a glass of wine and excellent food.
At 6:26 a.m. I have been up for an hour. The sky is clear high up. Seems it may be a mostly clear day. but temps only to go up to 59 F. (I was wrong in e-mail, sent earlier.) Looking forwward to a fun day of exploring Melbourne
Friday, October 24, 2014
Octobe 18 - 24 2014
Alida, 34ft 4in catamaran out of Hamilton Beach. Sunsail Yacht Charters.
Tom and Dianne and Paul and Becky met up with our sailing partners, Eric and Kathee and Larry and Val at the boat on Saturday afternoon. Our provisions had been delivered with only minor glitches...like the fact that all the wine had been delivered to a postal box on the other side of the island. Luckily, Kathee realizeed the mistake and one of the wonderful Sunsail people, James, picked it up for us.
Hamilton Island (population in 2006 of 1, 246) is pretty small, but boasts a jet airport and the Sunsail operation is a stroll from the ferry dock where we landed from Airlie Beach.
We were briefed on the Whitsunday islands and presented with charts anf information about where we cannot sail: five bays that are dangerous in the largrt area We stowed our provisions got another briefing on the boat and then began to relax in our home for two weeks.
Tom and Dianne and Paul and Becky met up with our sailing partners, Eric and Kathee and Larry and Val at the boat on Saturday afternoon. Our provisions had been delivered with only minor glitches...like the fact that all the wine had been delivered to a postal box on the other side of the island. Luckily, Kathee realizeed the mistake and one of the wonderful Sunsail people, James, picked it up for us.
Hamilton Island (population in 2006 of 1, 246) is pretty small, but boasts a jet airport and the Sunsail operation is a stroll from the ferry dock where we landed from Airlie Beach.
We were briefed on the Whitsunday islands and presented with charts anf information about where we cannot sail: five bays that are dangerous in the largrt area We stowed our provisions got another briefing on the boat and then began to relax in our home for two weeks.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Cairns and nearby
Cairns was established in 1876. Named after Governor Cairns. It was reported that its pronunciation as "CANS" is because that was how the governor pronounced his name. Seems a bit strange...or is it really the way Aussies speak? Cairns is on the same latitude: 16 degrees S as is Tahiti. Temperatures range from 31 - 33 degrees C. The wet season is from Christmas to Easter, said to rain 2 meters per year. It is pretty dry now in October. Timber is the main industry with tourism a close 2nd. Tropical fruits are plentiful as are the typical Hawaii plants we are used to seeing.
We are staying at the Ibis Styles Hotel, Cairns, which is nicely small with only three stories and is two blocks up from the water. There are penty of pelicans and other birds, but no beach. Cairns was carved out of mangrove...the waterfront is a large bay with mangrove to the northeast - and the airport there, too.
With saltwater and fresh water crocodiles...no one swims in the ocean. There is a pool at our hotel. And there is a large public swimming pool at the far end of the Esplanade that runs along the water.
Since we still had our rental car, we picked Tom and Dianne up at the airport on Monday evening when they flew in from Alice Springs. just in time for some wine drinking and catching up in our room.
The next morning we took a leisurely walk along the water front toward the Marlin Marina, to the southwest. Along the way we saw many large, sleek boats, there is a substantial mooring across the inlet and beautiful condos and hotels overlook the water.
In the early years, Cairns struggled to survive. Then gold was found across the tablelands There was a gold rush, so a rail line was seen as the answer.
Wednesday we took this train from Freshwater Station in Cairns to Kuranda, which is located on top of the tablelands. This rail line is an amazing feat as it was built entirely by hand. At times there were up to 1,500 men working on the rail. It was hard scrabble...with men living in tents and some small communities erected to house the workers and sometimes their families, too. One base camp, Stoney Creek housed a Methodist church and a brewery that produced 2,000 gallons of ale per week. There are 15 tunnels...the longest at 429 meters. Numerous tressels span gorges...most remarkable one that turns 80 degrees with a water fall on the left and drop-offs on the right as we traveled upward. They carved a stable rail bed out of the rock and earth.
We could have returned from Kuranda by rail but chose to do so by Skyrail, a modern gondola. It took eight years to complete...seven for the paper work and one year to build. The towers were placed by heliocopter...if trees were in the way they were temporarily replanted in pots and then replaced in the earth. From the high cable we skimmed over the tops of the wetlands, eventually seeing the coast, Cairns, and the ever present sugar cane fields as we topped the last cresting tower.
Just before pulling into the last skyrail station, we viewed a large oval waterway. As we decended were could see that the shapes moving counter-clock-wise around on the water wer skiiers. They are pulled by overhead cables. There are jumps. If a skiier falls, s/he just grabs hold of another handle and continues. Unique?
We are staying at the Ibis Styles Hotel, Cairns, which is nicely small with only three stories and is two blocks up from the water. There are penty of pelicans and other birds, but no beach. Cairns was carved out of mangrove...the waterfront is a large bay with mangrove to the northeast - and the airport there, too.
With saltwater and fresh water crocodiles...no one swims in the ocean. There is a pool at our hotel. And there is a large public swimming pool at the far end of the Esplanade that runs along the water.
Since we still had our rental car, we picked Tom and Dianne up at the airport on Monday evening when they flew in from Alice Springs. just in time for some wine drinking and catching up in our room.
The next morning we took a leisurely walk along the water front toward the Marlin Marina, to the southwest. Along the way we saw many large, sleek boats, there is a substantial mooring across the inlet and beautiful condos and hotels overlook the water.
In the early years, Cairns struggled to survive. Then gold was found across the tablelands There was a gold rush, so a rail line was seen as the answer.
Wednesday we took this train from Freshwater Station in Cairns to Kuranda, which is located on top of the tablelands. This rail line is an amazing feat as it was built entirely by hand. At times there were up to 1,500 men working on the rail. It was hard scrabble...with men living in tents and some small communities erected to house the workers and sometimes their families, too. One base camp, Stoney Creek housed a Methodist church and a brewery that produced 2,000 gallons of ale per week. There are 15 tunnels...the longest at 429 meters. Numerous tressels span gorges...most remarkable one that turns 80 degrees with a water fall on the left and drop-offs on the right as we traveled upward. They carved a stable rail bed out of the rock and earth.
We could have returned from Kuranda by rail but chose to do so by Skyrail, a modern gondola. It took eight years to complete...seven for the paper work and one year to build. The towers were placed by heliocopter...if trees were in the way they were temporarily replanted in pots and then replaced in the earth. From the high cable we skimmed over the tops of the wetlands, eventually seeing the coast, Cairns, and the ever present sugar cane fields as we topped the last cresting tower.
Just before pulling into the last skyrail station, we viewed a large oval waterway. As we decended were could see that the shapes moving counter-clock-wise around on the water wer skiiers. They are pulled by overhead cables. There are jumps. If a skiier falls, s/he just grabs hold of another handle and continues. Unique?
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Port Douglas, Qld
Port Douglas is a very manageable although touristy town. We are staying at Port o' Call Lodge, part of the Youth Hostels of Australia system, which has a delightful gourmet cafe. Even had a very good flaminco guitar player on Friday evening, This is our last night, Sunday, October 12th.
From here we took a boat 1 1/2 hours out to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling was excellent and I saw so many varieties of coral. And many fishes. (The plural, I have learned means more than one species. Otherwise, if only one species, the proper term is fish, even when seeing multiples.)
Today, Sunday, we first visited the Sunday morning market. Found lots to look at. Some stuff to buy. We then had a scrumtiious late breakfast in an outdoor cafe.
After that we took a road trip to Cape Tribulation, 54 miles to the north. Drove to the end of paved road...after which is 4-wheel drive, dirt. So we turned around. The Cape Trib beach is beautiful white very fine sand....with softly lapping wave. Walked along it for awhile before heading back into Port Douglas.
From here we took a boat 1 1/2 hours out to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling was excellent and I saw so many varieties of coral. And many fishes. (The plural, I have learned means more than one species. Otherwise, if only one species, the proper term is fish, even when seeing multiples.)
Today, Sunday, we first visited the Sunday morning market. Found lots to look at. Some stuff to buy. We then had a scrumtiious late breakfast in an outdoor cafe.
After that we took a road trip to Cape Tribulation, 54 miles to the north. Drove to the end of paved road...after which is 4-wheel drive, dirt. So we turned around. The Cape Trib beach is beautiful white very fine sand....with softly lapping wave. Walked along it for awhile before heading back into Port Douglas.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Yamba and nearby
Today is Labor Day. Monday, October 6. Michele and I went for a good walk from Neil and Marg's house to the beach, climbing over rocks and up steep sand trails to Yamba Back Beach where we watched surfers and a happy dog chasing a tennis ball.
Ross and Michele had to catch a plane back to Tuncurry at 4:00 so Ross drove us and them through back roads on a tour of the area that includes understanding how the Clarence River floods from time-to-time. Floods turn the region into a giant plane of water. There have been seven floods in the past ten years.
Neil showed us more of the area showing us how extensive the flooding is when it happens. All cattle must be moved to higher ground. Tre are so many rivera that feed into this area that major deaster can not be divertted. There have been flood in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Towns has levies, but still the flooding causes problems. As Neil drove us around the region, we becames aware of the severety of the problems that this flooding can cause.
As we have driven north area that may flood are marked along the highway. At Park of the Sierras we have been experiencing severe drought. And Australia has also had drough. But such flooding is hard to imagine.
Ross and Michele had to catch a plane back to Tuncurry at 4:00 so Ross drove us and them through back roads on a tour of the area that includes understanding how the Clarence River floods from time-to-time. Floods turn the region into a giant plane of water. There have been seven floods in the past ten years.
Neil showed us more of the area showing us how extensive the flooding is when it happens. All cattle must be moved to higher ground. Tre are so many rivera that feed into this area that major deaster can not be divertted. There have been flood in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Towns has levies, but still the flooding causes problems. As Neil drove us around the region, we becames aware of the severety of the problems that this flooding can cause.
As we have driven north area that may flood are marked along the highway. At Park of the Sierras we have been experiencing severe drought. And Australia has also had drough. But such flooding is hard to imagine.
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