Cruising The Bass Strait To Melbourne And Adelaide

Monday February 7^th

At sea all day. It is Super Bowl Sunday (but showing here on Monday – we’re one day ahead!!) between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers so there is a huge party in The Grand Saloon with the yanks cheering for their favourites whilst munching on hot dogs, burgers, chips etc etc … and it’s only 10.00am in the morning - apparently the Packers won!!

Rest of the day lazing on deck as the weather is good today.

Tuesday February 8^th

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Melbourne is the second most populous city in Australia with approximately 4 million inhabitants.  We took the city centre free tram ride to see all the Melbourne attractions and visited the massive Queen Victoria Market – it must have covered an area equal to about 10 football pitches! Mostly looking but did buy a few bits and bobs. Exciting city but much to busy for me… I’m just an urban gal!!

This evening there is another full world cruisers event – A visit to Werribee Park. This is a magnificent mansion build in 1878 to emulate a grand English estate.

We enjoyed champagne and canapés as we wandered the impressive rooms and admired the massive gardens from the balconies. We then dined in the ballroom and were entertained by some of Australia’s finest opera singers. The soprano Margaret Orr was really fantastic. The evening finished with a selection of famous Aussie folk tunes sung by a local girl’s choir.

Wednesday February 9^th

Cruising The Bass Strait – Again!!

Started art class today with Gregory Burns an American artist and author based in the far east and well know in China. I haven’t painted (apart from the bathroom walls) or drawn since my school days. I was really pleased with my first effort which was in watercolours and oil pastels – Vance says it looks like an elephant but in fact it is a flower – honest!! It looked so easy when Greg showed us how to do it.

Vance and I restarted our Kinesis classes in the gym after a break of three weeks so we’re feeling a bit stiff this morning. Also followed it with a Tai Chi class which was surprisingly difficult – my bum muscles are really aching. Must really try and keep these lessons going for more than a week this time especially as I still hope to lose half a stone during this cruise!!

Thursday February 10^th

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Arrived in Adelaide this morning at 8am and took a tour to the Cleland Wildlife Park up in the hills. A wonderful morning with the Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas and even a Tasmanian Devil all out in open parkland…..the Devil was in an open enclosure but with an electrified wire around the inside as apparently they bite!!

After that we drove to the peak at Mount Lofty for spectacular views of the city followed by a return visit to the main sights of Adelaide. Loved it here so clean, open and bright with massive parks and greenery – then of course back home to the ship for a cold beer mate before lunch.