Day 48 Sydney, Australia

We were up quite early today as we had to be down for immigration at 7:40.  We also had an all day tour.  Today we were anchored in Sydney which in our 3 visits this was a first.  We are usually docked by the Opera House but we were told that Carnival bought the dock so it sits empty unless they are here.

We went through immigration which there were some problems and there was a huge line.  It seems when we get to port the internet on the ship goes down for a little while and they were not able to process anyone until after 8am.  Once the line started to move it went pretty quickly.  We headed down from there to the tenders as we had an 8:15 tour that was changed to 8:25 due to tendering that did not leave until after 9am.  We drove for about an hour to Ferndale Wild life park and for the first time in 3 visits I got to see the Tasmanian Devil.  We also saw wombats, dingos, and of course Koalas and Roos!  After spending about an hour here we boarded our bus again and headed up to the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains .  They are full of eucalaptis trees and they do give off a blue hue.  It was beautiful up there.  We were taken to the cafeteria upstairs for lunch.  They had tables reserved for us and we had waiter service .  God forbid a Crystal passenger should wait on them selves.  It was interesting as we were given a plate overloaded with fried fish and fries.  I did eat the cod as I had a light breakfast at 6am and it was now after 1.  I almost ate one of the onion rings but decided I didn’t need the calories as the fish was fried.  Am I glad because it was not an onion ring it was fried Calamari and there was also fried shrimp!  Interesting choice but I managed.  I think I need to let shore excursions know so when we do other tours I don’t have a problem if that is all that is offered.

After lunch we boarded the steepest incline railway in the world and let me tell you it was a little scary.  Even though it only goes 8 miles an hour because you are going down straight you are pushed forward and I felt like I was going to fall it is all enclosed and safe just gives you the feeling.  And yes I took videos for proof that we did it.  When you got down not all the way to the bottom we walked through the rainforest and then up a couple of flights of steps to get into the cable cars which were pretty high to take us back to the top of the mtn.  Got a video of that too as Bill does not like heights but he did great!

The scenery from the top was truly gorgeous.  our next stop was Echo Point where we had a great view of  “The Three Sisters” legend has it that the Maori Witch doctor had 3 daughters and he was going down and told the girls to stay in camp because of the mythical beast.  Well the girls went down to meet boys and dropped something on the beasts head and woke him.  The father trying to save the girls turned them into stone and then could not reverse the curse.  I think they are just three mountains but hey what do I know it makes a good story!

After this we headed back to the bus for our 1 ¾ hour ride back to the ship.  We did do a drive through Olympic Village where the 2000 olympics were held.

We arrived back at the tender at 5:25 and the tender (larger ferries where hired) was there and getting ready to leave at 5:30.  They were running every 30 min on the half hour and since the shops closed at 5 and we would have to wait till 6 for the next tender and I was tired we got on.  We got back to our room and decided we did not want to change for dinner so we ordered room service.  Bill had a turkey club and I had the Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast!  Bill headed to the cigar lounge and I picked up my knitting that I haven’t worked on in almost 2 weeks!

 Our stewardess Marjia brought me a scale I had asked for and she got on and made sure it was correct.  I was dreading getting on since I got on once right after we left and was the same as when I boarded.  I have been working out and walking and even though I am eating what I want (bread or a dessert or glass of wine now and then or even a martini) I don’t have it at every meal.  The good news is that I am down 12 pounds in 6 weeks.  I will take it!

 There was just music in the cove last night as we did not leave Sydney till midnight.  There was an excursion to the Opera House. Ilene and Andy went to the Opera.  It was Madame Butterfly and I would have loved to have seen that again but we did the opera in 12 and that was enough for Bill!

Tomorrow we will be at sea as we make our way to Melbourne.  I will be at class as I missed half the class for Jewelry fashion show and the next day I missed the whole class due to the Joseph Ribbcoff fashion show.  Stan did work with me and I am meeting with him for a couple of hours tomorrow before we get to Melbourne.  His comment was “you are so advanced then anyone else in this class it won’t take you long”.  He is explaining ICloud I Tunes and synching and I need a better handle on that!

We have been invited back to the Captain’s Quarters for cocktails tomorrow evening  well I have so many new clothes what to wear, what to wear!

We had another great day!