Berthed in Cairns
Each night, were we will have an excursion the following day, we go over what we are going to see or visit on the excursion. We check the weather at the location when we are going the next day. Will it rain? How hot will it be? Things that may have an effect on how we dress the next day. Timing of the excursion is also important. Do we have to get up early? Do we have time for breakfast? So, so many first world problems.
In checking the weather for today we discovered that the forecast was thunderstorms and rain. Thunderstorms aren’t an issue by themselves, but rain is a different story. So far the rain in Australia has been warm and seems to vary quite a bit between a torrential down pour and alight drizzle. It also seems to be able to switch been the two in a matter of minutes. It is also hot enough that you dry off fairly quickly.
This morning excursion was entitled Panoramic Cairns. Well, if it is raining, and perhaps the added thunderstorm feature maybe it isn’t necessary to ride around on a motor coach for two hours, with a short stop at the botanical gardens. We have seen the flora and fauna of Australia in two different botanical gardens now. One in New Zealand was even during a downpour.
Before retiring for the night, the tickets to today’s excursion were turned in at Destination Services. From whom we simply got a grunt. The description of Cairns in Passages, the daily newsletter aboard Regent Seven Seas cruises, was mainly dedicated to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef sits just a short boat ride from Cairns and appears to be the primary tourist attraction.
The Great Barrier Reef really isn’t a tourist attraction. It is the world’s largest coral reef system and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will never get all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites to our “been there done that” list, but since we aren’t really into diving or snorkeling, we weren’t worried about not seeing it.
We pulled into the Port of Carins just after seven. It wasn’t raining as we pulled in but it was obvious that it had been raining and the sty looked ominously like it was going to rain. The weather app still was suggesting thunderstorms and a 50% chance of rain. The action last night of returning in the excursion tickets appeared to be the right thing to do.
The Mariner is berthed right at the edge of town. No tender and no shuttle bus to deal with. Walk off and walk on. We got up and had breakfast, moved along slowly so the excursions could move out. There is book club tonight in California, which means we needed to be back by 12:30; when it will be 18:30 in California yesterday. Confusioning right?
Our suite, on the port side of the Mariner, gave us a good view of the town. We could see what looked like a somewhat miniature version of the London Eye just a few blocks away. So we headed off the ship and into the cruise terminal. We stopped at the information desk in the cruise terminal and asked about the “eye” and where to perhaps get a late lunch.
They were kind enough to give us a map of the CBD, Central Business District, and point out how to get to the Reef Eye. They also pointed out a lovely walk way along the harbor and suggested we would find a fine meal at Dundee’s Restaurant on the waterfront. We were so prepared, except we, despite knowing better, didn’t bring an umbrella.
We headed out to Wharf Street going north then we turned at the Hilton and walked out to the waterfront walkway as directed. Here we found several restaurants including Dundees’s. It started raining, but lightly. From this vantage point you could actually see the Great Barrier Reef in the distance. You could also see, through the grey haze of the cloud and rain, Magic Island.
Well it turns out that isn’t an island out there but actually a part of the Great Barrier Reef. Which explained all the tour boats taking people out to see it. There were to ubiquitous tourist shops as well. There were also a several shops selling various tour packages fr the area.
We continued along the Carins Esplanade past the very large pool in a park unit we reached the Reef Eye. It is a small version of the London Eye. The London Eye is 135 meters tall, the Reef Eye is 35. Of course, there aren’t a number of skyscrapers blocking your view in Cairns. You could see the whole city with out getting rained on.
After the ride we walked in the general direction of the ship just looking at various lunch alternatives as we went on. We found an Indian restaurant called Spicy India Indian Restaurant which looked very enticing and decided to make our way back here for lunch later.
We walked on until we found a Woolworths. Woolworths is a drug store, supermarket, lunch counter and pharmacy all rolled in to one. We got some bandaids for Mary’s blisters, a few other items. Back a the ship we dried off and while Mary was at her book club meeting I went and had a cigar. The book club finished up at 1:30 and we headed off to find that Indian restaurant again. This time armed with umbrellas.
There was no difficulty in finding the restaurant. The problem was it wasn’t open today for some reason. So we decided to head to Dundee’s. It was a very good thing we brought the umbrellas. It cycled between a downpour and a drizzle all afternoon.
Lunch was at Dundees. It was very nice, right on the walkway leading out to the bay and overlooking the Great Barrier Reef off in the distance. Fun fact. Olestra or Olean isn’t banned in Australia. In fact it it used in many diet food products. It is even used by restaurants for deep “fat” frying. While the spring rolls tasted great, they were apparently cooked in Olean.
At first the thought that anyone would use Olean never crossed my mind. I went on chowing down until I felt full. An interesting concept for those of us who can’t digest or hold Olean in our body. The remainder of my night was spent in the suite, in the little room. Internet research reveled that Olean is common in Australia as a cooking oil, especially in diet products. No more eating off the ship for a while.
Mary went to the Seven Seas important guest receiption and show. I stayed tied to the little room. By-the-way olestra is banned in the US, Canada and the European Union. Elsewhere not so much.
Non c'è niente di male, comunque uno sopravviverà! Life goes no. Weight loss will not be important for a few days. Ciao, Enrico e Maria.
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