Day 43 ............ November 7, 2008
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Arrival in Sydney
- Disembarkation
- Bus tour of Sydney area
- Check-in at the Swissotel Sydney
- Late lunch at the 3 Wise Monkeys Pub
We docked right next to the Sydney Opera House around 6:00 am, just as the sun was coming up ( see
image at right). The bus to the hotel took us on a tour of the Sydney area, including a topless beach.
After checking in at the hotel, we walked around the area including the Queen Victoria Building (a
block long, several story shoping arcade in the Victorian style) and along a branch of the harbor.
Weather: Partly cloudy; started out in the 60's but warmed up later.
Day 42 ............ November 6, 2008
At Sea ~~ One day
Briefed on disembarkation procedures. Special chef's dinner in the evening which included the entrance of the
table stewards to music and spinning our napkins before placing them on our laps and climaxed by the parade
of the baked Alaska. (Image of sunset when leaving the harbor at Melbourne at right.)
Weather: Partly cloudy and in the 60's; only swells.
Day 41 ............ November 5, 2008
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ~~ Tour: Personally guided by Jack's friends
- Downtown Melbourne - walking
- Free downtown streetcar ciruit
- Around 3:00 pm local time (9:00 pm Chicago time November 4th) heard of election outcome projection
Melbourne is a bustling city of 3.5 million with an extensive tram/light rail and commuter train system. The streets of the
downtown were very full of people, many of them tourists who can rely on a very effective support system. The image
at the right was taken from the 88th floor of a new condominium complex looking out toward the harbor. There were
many fine examples of majestic Victorian architecture.
Weather: Partly cloudy; cool in the AM, but warm in the PM
Day 40 ............ November 4, 2008
Burnie, Tasmania, Australia ~~ Tour: Panaramic Costal Journey
- Table Cape
- Tullip fields
- Boat Harbor
- Killynaught Restaurant (morning tea)
- Stanley
- "The Nut" mountain
- Seaview Inn (lunch)
- Mawbana
- Dip Falls
- Big Tree
Went through fields of harvested tulips at Table Cape, an export to Holland during the Australian summer.
The image at the right is of "The Nut" mountain at Stanley, the lava lake of an eroded volcano created millions of years ago.
Dip Falls was an example of unique rock formations; Big Tree was the size of California redwoods located in a rainforest area just inland from the coast.
Weather: Sunny and crystal clear the whole day; morning started out rather chilly.