Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Hopping past Kangaroo Island and A Fine Time in Adelaide/Hahnsdorf

 January 16, 2018

Kangaroo Island, Australia (To Tender Or Not?)


The ship has had a few mis-adventures (three medical emergencies where we had to turn around to drop off a passenger or a crew member to a medical facility - one person was even air lifted onto a helicopter for transport) and quite a few missed ports where we were supposed to anchor and use the tenders to get into port.

The most recent event was Kangaroo Island.  We didn't have anything planned for this stop, but it was still disappointing to not get off the ship as planned.  The ship anchor wouldn't hold and the seas were too rough for the tenders to operate.


January 17, 2018

Adelaide, Australia

Because of missing Kangaroo Island yesterday, we arrived in Adelaide last evening and had a planned privately booked excursion for this afternoon.  In the morning, we just walked off the ship to see what was there and realized that the train station was right across the street.

Now you must realize that I planned all of our excursions back in August, 2017 and printed out my receipts and overview of the itinerary for each and wrote notes as to where to meet the tour, etc. on the front page.

For Adelaide, I clearly wrote "Meet At The Main Adelaide Bus Station at 12:45 PM".  However, my brain said 'Meet at the train station at 12:45 PM'.  So, just before 12:00 noon, we walked out to the Train Station and started to wait - - I kept re-reading my paperwork - - finally my brain and my eyes stated working together and I stated "*%&$# - we're at the wrong place".  There were lots of security and volunteers around, so I snagged one and he said that the BUS station was about 45 minutes away.  %&$# - now what. 

There was one lonely cab sitting in the parking lot.  The driving was dozing.  We woke him up and asked frantically - can you take us to the BUS station and get us there within 45 minutes?  He said it would be a tight fit, but he'd do his best.  He was also nice enough to call the tour company and tell them we might be a moment or two late but that we were on our way.

50 Australian dollars and 42 minutes later, we arrived at the BUS station and found our tour.  We were not the last ones to arrive - and when the 10 of us got going we had finally calmed down and were looking forward to a lovely day.  (There was another couple from the cruise on the same tour and they had taken a TRAIN - from across the street from the ship - into town (for $0) and had then walked to the BUS station from there...)

The tour drove around Adelaide and then headed out of the city to a lovely town called Hahnsdorf (very German - lots of shops and eateries).  There was a lot of traffic in the city since the Tour Down Under which is similar to the Tour de France.  Thought of my son-in-law, Chris, and his Pan Mass Challenge participation of the past.  Bicycles EVERYWHERE!
Our ship in port
 Overlooking the City of Adelaide from Mount Lofty






 Pretty flowers in a parking lot...


Now, who can tell me why this photo is included? 

          Hint:  Think of Jeffrey and his favorite 'Christmas' song...


Enjoyed browsing around the town of Hahnsdorf, made a few purchases (of course) and enjoyed the ride back into Adelaide.

Then (with the help of our fellow cruisers), we quickly walked from the BUS station to the TRAIN station and got a free train ride back out to the ship.  They have amazing train service - it stops almost every mile or so.

Now, 'All-Aboard' (when you're supposed to be back on the ship) was 6:30 PM - we walked onto the ship at 6:30 PM - the last passengers to get checked back in for the day.  It was a fun day and then we enjoyed a lovely buffet dinner (poor us - grilled lobster, shrimp, baby lamb chops and so much more) since we didn't feel like 'cleaning up' and getting dressed for the main dining room.


January 18, 2018



Day at Sea on our way to Melbourne, Australia.

We've met some amazing fellow travelers and crew on this journey.  I will miss their daily interactions.  The tee-shirts with funny sayings that I gave Jeffrey for Chanukah have been a huge hit.  I should get a commission from the tee-shirt company for all the referrals.  There's lots of love - there's lots of laughs - there will be some tears as our journey starts to wind down.





A special mention to a loving new friend that we met on this trip.  Her name is Marianna and she is a Jr. Head Waiter (a Head Waiter in training).  On our first Oceania cruise (January, 2014) we met an amazing woman named Marina Lada who I've stayed in touch with since that time.  She no longer works on the ships, but keeps in touch with friends and former co-workers and has been kind enough to refer us to these friends on our subsequent trips.


Marianna is one such 'referal'...  A lovely, intelligent, beautiful person who lights up when she greets you.  She's from the Ukraine (as is Marina) and I know she will continue up the ladder on her quest to rule the seas!



NOTE:  By the way - if you're reading this post and would like to leave a comment - I'd love to hear feedback.  Be honest, please.  I'm enjoying documenting the trip and know that it will be a useful tool as my few brain cells leave me clueless on what I've done in my life!

Life is Good!


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