Hi, everyone!
We spent the last day of our cruise in Sydney, Australia! The entry to Sydney harbor is a narrow opening between cliffs, and we got there just as the sun was rising. By the time we got close to Sydney, itself, it was daylight.
There were three other cruise ships in the harbor when we got there, so MS Marina had to anchor in the middle of the harbor. Grandma and Grandpa and I have all spent several days in Sydney before, so we decided to simply walk around the area near Circular Quay on this trip. We took a tender to Dawes Point, just under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and walked around Circular Quay to the Royal Botanic Garden. Sydney is getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year and they were setting out models of terra cotta warriors on the lawn. Guess what? MS Amsterdam is here, too! They are moored at the Circular Quay passenger terminal. Grandpa says that MS Amsterdam got all the good parking spots on this trip! Of course, I wanted to climb the steps at the Opera House again! There is a tourist tram to take visitors around the Royal Botanic Garden, but we wanted to walk, instead!
First we walked around the shore to Mrs. Macquerie’s Chair. Mrs. Macquerie was the wife of a British colonial official and she liked to sit on a rock at this point to look at the view. When she did it, there was no Harbor Bridge or Opera House to see! Then we found the path into the middle of the garden. This is a very peaceful place, but really close to busy downtown! I saw an ad for a program that looked like it would be perfect for me! The park is so big, Grandpa had to check the map again to find the Palm Court!
When we got there, we had a snack at the Garden Café. There was a friendly ibis, waiting to see if we would drop any muffin crumbs!
After our snack, we took a walk across downtown, all the way to Darling Harbor! That’s where I found a koala friend for Bill-kun six years ago, and I found a koala friend for James and Thomas! We had lunch at King Street Wharf and walked around in the sunshine afterward. It was a very pretty, warm, sunny day! I made friends with the birds in the fountain near the wharf, then we walked back to Dawes Point to get the tender back to the boat. I could see people walking way up on top of the Harbor Bridge! That’s what my new friend Tigger was going to do today! He’s very brave and adventurous!
We got back to the ship just in time to go to afternoon tea for the very last time. Then Grandma helped me write a thank you note to my crew friend, Robielyn-san. I waited to give her the note when Grandma and Grandpa went to dinner. Robielyn-san could see I was sad about leaving her and the cruise, so she made sure I had tissues in case I started to cry.
After dark, MS Marina moved to the passenger terminal at White Bay. We could see the Opera House and Harbor Bridge all lit up as we went past them and Darling Harbor to get to our docking place near ANZAC Bridge.
The next morning we got up before sunrise to get ready to go to the airport. The taxi that took us went through a tunnel under downtown. I didn’t know that tunnel was even there! The first flight, to Los Angeles, took over thirteen hours! The plane had lots of empty seats, so I got to sit by myself! By the time we got on the next flight to Chicago, we were already tired. Grandpa and I took a nap together. It was already after dark when we took our third flight from Chicago back to Rochester. When we landed, the outside temperature was 0 degrees F. and there was blowing snow on the runway! It was so cold, Grandma zipped me up in the backpack so just my nose showed! Joe-san and Nancy-san gave us a ride home from the airport.
Today, it was still 0 degrees when I got up. Look at all the snow on the ground and the roof! Grandma and Grandpa had to dig Grandpa’s car out of a snowbank so they could go shopping!
Love,
Lion-san
We liked Sydney also when we went there. The Opera house and the bridge are so pretty especially at night. I’m glad you found a little koala bear for James and Thomas. That was nice of Robielyn-san gave you kleenex because you were sad. Just seeing your nose was a smart way to travel in Rochester that night! We were glad to pick you up that night and see all of you again. We are glad you got Grandpa’s car dug out. Welcome home!