Around Sydney

We arrived in Sydney a full 8  hours ahead of schedule thanks to some inclement weather.

(That would be massive Cyclone Gita that tore up Tonga.  Swells from the storm prevented us from visiting Norfolk Island, so we made a direct course for Sydney).

The fact that Carnival owns the dock in Sydney and so those big ships get first preference  Docking logisitics prevented us from docking more than one day in Sydney, so for days two and three, we would be tendering in.  But whilst alongside the quay, it was just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Friend Ada and I had planned to try the hop-on-hop-off bus for 2 days, exploring the harbor and environs....but we ended up with a little retail therapy and a boat ride to Manly Beach for lunch.
It was Chinese New Year and the harbor was tarted up appropriately.

Baby New Year on the Chinese Dragon's flames...

Lounging Tiger, Hidden Ferries...

I FINALLY broke down and spent the bucks for a Helen Kaminski hat...something I've always wanted.
(It's rollable, it's packable, it's handmade of raffia, it's darn cute to boot- and DAMMIT, it's MY money and I WANTED it--but it's still a HELLUVA lotta money for a hat)

Ada and Elisabeth-with-an-S (to distinguish her from moi- who is referred to as Elizabeth-with-a-Zed because I'm hanging with Canadians and Danes) also purchased hats, so I must get a pic of all of us avec chapeaux soon.

I also conned  talked into  helped Elisabeth purchase an Apple Watch.

Ada is waiting to buy one in Toronto because she wants the cellular capabilities....Maybe we should just plan on buying everything in threes- might get a discount.  These two are MIGHTY shoppers- I am almost dreading the peer pressure of shopping in Hong Kong.......

( I know Anna-Grace and Alix are asking "Shopping??? Who is writing this  and what have you done with my mom/mother-in-law?")

Small regattas in the decidedly breezy afternoon.

Evidently, Sydney Harbor is THE place for Asians to have their wedding photos made.

I just pinch myself because I am here!!

Up next--the big Crystal White Gala and a very special sailaway!

Early Morning Catchup

There are so many advantages to waking up early each morning.  On a cruise ship, one of them is getting your laundry done while the rest of the guests sleep.

(Austin and Alix- you know all about laundry room wars.....)

Another is getting your calendar organized whilst waiting for Gideon to deliver my morning lemon water, V-8 and coffee.

(yes, I recognized how spoiled I am....)

Another is getting the blog post out of the way so I can get back to enjoying a sea day full of needlework...

Ok, it's been a while and I have to catch you up on my goings-on over the past week.
I just organized my photos and it's gonna take more than one go... so I'm gonna get right on it.

After the jazz brunch.    I hope this will hold you until then...

My precious stewardess Martha is trying to keep me hydrated (those are 1.5 liter bottles)...

I am working out, Eric...

Howard got this silly photo of me at the Mardi Gras party...

Austin, we had Beef Wellington...

Which meant I had to do the traditional "Austin-with-Beef-Wellington"pose...

And that's all for now, peeps- time to strap on the ol' feed bag once again....

Clearly, I'm having no fun....

Crew Tug-of-War

Every year, the highlight of Crystal Cruises' World Cruise Games is the Crew Tug-of-War.  Some of these departments practice for MONTHs in an attempt to dethrone the reigning champions, the Crystal Dining Room team.

It's a visual thing...so just enjoy the merriment....

My friend Che with RD*

and my friend Ada with RD...

and my friend Barbara with RD...

(RD gets around).

Afzal struggling to stay out of the sunshine while cheering on his Barstaff team...

 Style can be as important as strength sometimes... as the housekeeping department proves...

The galley crew...

The Shops/Shore Ex/Photography crew...

I think this was the specialty restaurants crew- but whoever it is, I loved how they turned umbrellas into jellyfish...

The always-expected-to-win Crystal Dining Room crew...

And the crew office crew!!!

My buddy Ross ready to tug...

I think these guys are the back galley crew...

And the deck department!

Mario, my mom's favorite waiter...

Powerhouse Musa ready to go...

And Coach Augusto, all ready for "his" team, the CDR, to win.

It was close--much closer than  in previous years. But, in the end, the CDR guys beat out the Bad Boys of the Bar.

Solid good fun in the sun!!!

*"Rubber Ducky" is RD's formal name.......

A Bit of France in the South Pacific

Noumea, New Caledonia is a teeny tiny slice of France in the great big Pacific.
The smell from the bakeries alone are enough to make you want to stay forever- never mind the beauty of the island.  The reef here is second only to the Great Barrier Reef in size...and two years ago, brother Will and I snorkeled off Duck Island.  So this trip, I hopped on the Tchou Tchou Train for a ride around.

Noumea has a population of 100,000- and has an equal number of visitors each year.
Almost every household owns a boat.

Bay of Lemon Trees (sounds so much better en français- la Baie des Citrons)- L'Île aux Canards in the distance.

Le Roof is THE place to be at sunset, we were told.

Aren't these windswept pines wonderful?

Our cute little open-aired train - up to the top to see the lagoons and beaches that surround this glorious island. There is also a rather large mountain range that traverses Grande Terre.

Le Tricolor flies, even if France proper is 20,000 kilometers away.

My home in the distance...

While waiting for a roof to be replaced, locals have decorated an abandoned  building with pretty amazing designs.

I could DEFINITELY come back for a longer visit!!!