Blue Planet Journey

Caroline, Celebrity  Solstice  Hotel Manager Sue Richardson, and me on Deck 15.  Yes, that's actual lawn! If you haven't been on a cruise ship, your perception may be tainted by watching that hit television show from the 1970s and 80s, " The Love Boat ." That show taught us that you'll always be able to sit at the captain's table, there is no wind on the top deck in the evenings so your hair won't get mussed, and there is only 1 bartender. The reality is that I never ran into a person who ate at the captain's table (is there one?), any conversation on the top deck with the ship traveling at 20 knots will have your hair whipping over your face and you'll be yelling at your partner to be heard, and bartenders are a dime a dozen (but still appreciated). A cruise ship is a small city, and 3/4 of the people are all living in the same hotel (the other 1/4 are crew, and live on the lower decks).  Depending on what you've reserved (a room ve...

We had about 28 hours in Sydney before heading to the airport.  After lugging our bags up numerous stairs, we made it to the bed and breakfast in The Rocks , where we found we were on the third floor (more stairs).  We dumped the luggage, and took advantage of our location, right next to another set of stairs that leads to the walkway along and over the Sydney Harbour Bridge . So we've ridden bicycles across the bridge, and took a bus that drove across.  We've been under it on numerous walks, and the ferries and tour boats give you a good perspective from underneath.  But we had never walked across.  There's a good breeze, so a warm day shouldn't keep you from making this trip.  And it is free.  If you have the time and money, you can walk over the inner (about $160 AUD) or outer rim (about $300 AUD) of the bridge, or climb one of the pylons ($15 AUD).  Jeez... or you can rent a bike for about $25 AUD and ride across, or walk for...

After 2 sea days, the Celebrity Solstice returned to Sydney.  This cruise was a rather confining experience.  The itinerary was Sydney to 3 islands in New Caledonia, and return.  Caroline had to work when we stopped in Noumea (the capital), and the other 2 islands weren't very large.  On those islands, we walked and snorkeled, then returned to the ship.  It was a different cruise experience for a number of reasons.     We seemed to spend a lot more time on the ship, and there seemed to be minimal programming to adjust for that.  The primary programming?  Eat, drink, and be merry.  Of course, days and days (and weeks) of this behavior can be debilitating, and it is not what we do.  Late evening activities with alcohol don't work when you go to bed "early" (when Caroline works, it is lights out at 9 PM).   There were kids everywhere.  I heard that, of the 2800 or so guests, 600 were kids.  There we...

Holding a model of the skull of an adult saltwater croc . I’ve spent over 2 weeks in Sydney, and I’ve seen exactly zero cats.  This includes Sydney Harbour around Circular Quay, a couple of miles of both Bondi and Manly beachfront, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbour, central Sydney, and a side trip to the Blue Mountains.  I’ve chatted with police, security guards, and somebody with the word “ranger” stitched on his shirt.  I’ve also talked with people on the Solstice who live in Sydney.  What do they all say?  There are very few cats in the city, but many cats in the rural areas.  I’ve talked to no one who can say why there are few city cats.  I’m convinced there are cats being released or escaping in Sydney, so where are they?  I suspect they are being controlled or managed, but by whom and how I don’t know.  I’ve been looking for a vet clinic, but they are scarce in the high-rent business neighborhoods.  Everyone - eve...

We made some adjustments today.  First, we said goodbye to our number 1 daughter, Katelin, as she left to rejoin Elan and his family in Colorado Springs.  Katelin, enjoy the transition from 2 weeks of temperatures in the 80s or above to below freezing! Second, we moved from Darling Harbour to Bondi Beach.  New Years Eve in Sydney is a BIG DEAL.  The fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge cost millions, and the best places to view this spectacle cost money.  I heard that a basic ticket for a seat to the show at the Sydney Opera House costs $750 AUD.  What I do know is that our apartment rental rate increased 300% for tonight, so we moved on to Bondi for an Airbnb.  We’ll be here 2 nights before catching a ferry to the cruise ship, the Celebrity Solstice .  Unfortunately, I doubt that we’ll be able to stay up until midnight to see the fireworks.  Caroline and I have already gone for a 5 mile run, a 20 minute swim, and a 6 mile walk ...