Sydney, round 2

Monday, 12 March... Another Flight (another day?) this time from Uluru, returning to Sydney...

Back in Sydney, we considered the train, but took a cab... With 4 of us traveling together it was much cheaper (but not necessarily faster). Back at the B&B... Then off to dinner, at the Australian Hotel, established 1889... So says the bar coaster... Sitting outside, drinking and eating pizza and beef pies... There were chips too...

Back to the hotel, to bed, a bit early, as our internal clocks are still not quite on local time... Which is a fluid concept... Uluru was an hour and a half ahead of Sydney... Sydney was 5 hours ahead of home when we arrived but is only 4 hours now due to daylight savings time changing....

Now Tuesday, 13, March... Up early, showered, then I took a walk in search of our ship... I found it in Darling Harbor... Returned to the B&B... For a wonderful breakfast, then repacking, hauling the bags down. We have luggage... It's a three week trip... Hot in Sydney and Uluru, then much cooler over the rest of the trip... Plus Formal wear for aboard... There are 4 of us... 3 of whom are women... We have more luggage than 18th century British Army general on campaign. (British Army generals were known having luggage caravans... Numerous wagons piled high with luggage). We do not have wagons loaded with luggage, but have a pile...

We hailed a taxi, a maxi taxi due to the volume of luggage, then off for a quick trip to the ship. Baggage checked, checked in, It took less than 5 minutes... Everyone was friendly... All is good... They are boarding early... At 11:30 rather than 1:00 as advertized... Now 11:35, and they are calling our boarding group... Onboard before noon. More later.

Now late... We were in our cabin by 11:50... Had a light lunch on the Lido, then having 5+ hours before we sailed, I disembarked, walked up Darling Harbor to the Australian Maritime museum... Toured a destroyer, a submarine and their galleries... One floor was,dedicated to the United States, particularly the "Great White Fleet" and it's visit to Australia in 1908... Walking back, I found an ATM and got money for Melbourne...

Back aboard, I took a quick shower, and we walked about, exploring the ship, killing time until the dreaded lifeboat drill... At least dreaded until the recent unpleasant experience of the Costa Concordia... Now people accept the drill as a necessary evil, rather than just torture. The names of each passenger, by cabin were read, and their presence recorded, along with an announcement that "Passengers who do not participate, will not be allowed to sail...". Tanya, one of Tina's sister wasn't feeling well, and needed it sit down during the drill... Which resulted in the ship's Dr. Checking her, and clearing her (at least as a threat to the other passenger's heath...)

Life boat drill completed, we stopped by our cabin, then went to the Crow's Nest ( a bar, high up, facing forward, great view) for the sail away... The ship had been docked in Darling Harbor, so to get to sea, we passed under the Sidney Bridge, past the circular quay and opera house, even then it was some miles before we reached the South Pacific...

Dinner followed at 8:00, (formerly known as the late seating), then, off to bed... We were all tired...