Friday Dec. 03
When we got up this morning, Violet greeted us with, “Bacon and eggs for breakfast”. It was a definite statement, not a question, for Violet wanted to set us up for the day. After a few small protests, we gave in and enjoyed the meal she placed for us. Soon, it was time for us to leave so with a quick hug and cheery goodbye, we were off to Sydney. The Pontings had made us so welcome.
The drive to Sydney went very well. After about two hours we pulled into a service place for a coffee. As I went to the counter to order, a school party drove in. Kids piled out and we began to wonder. Could this be the return trip for Fiona’s school party? Indeed it was and as we watched Fiona came into the building. We gave her a quick hug, wished her well and then got out of the way of the kids. It was lovely to have the chance to say goodbye to her.
We motored on and soon we were into the Sydney traffic. It was thick and moving slowly. However, we soon picked up the signs to the airport and followed them closely. We then followed the car return signs and got into the Hertz area. Moments later, we’d disposed of the car and were paying for it at the desk. All went well. It had been a good ride down from Green point. We learned that we need to check the fine print. By returning it a day early we had to forego our $26 a day rate for a $54 a day. We compromised and paid for the week even though we returned it early!!
A burger at the airport was next. We then followed our noses and got to the area where the shuttle buses left for various hotels. Ours came in from the Holiday Inn and we hopped on board. Unlike Canada, there seem to be very few free shuttles here. Our cost for the ride on the hotel’s van will be added to our hotel bill on our departure. We checked in at the hotel and got into our room. I asked at the desk if wifi was available and it was, but at a cost. We’ve only found one place so far in our travels where wifi has been free. That was in a small café in Alice Springs. Compare that to Nova Scotia, where even little B & B places provided free hook-up. We relaxed in the room for a while. Cynthia went to explore the hotel, but found little to see or inspire her. We have decided to go walkabout this evening in an attempt to find a good eating place. We headed out about 17.30 towards the Botany Bay Rd. area from our hotel in Mascot. After walking for about 15 minutes we discovered a lovely Italian pizzeria/restaurant, which was packed with diners…always a good sign. We went in and checked out the menu. We shared a large pizza and had a beer and a wine. It was delicious. We relaxed there for and hour or so and soaked up the atmosphere. Then we paid and strolled across to the IGA market and got fruit and yogurt for our breakfast on Saturday morning. The walk back to the hotel went quickly. We stached the food and settled down to a few games of Quiddler…I lost again. One of these posts I’m going to be able to announce a win. We were tired so we called it quits and bedded down. Tomorrow we board the ship but we have to get to Sydney Cove from here. We have a plan. Tomorrow we’ll see if it works.
Saturday, Dec. 04
We slept well at the Holiday Inn. We relaxed in the room after eating our yogurt and fruit breakfast with tea. Check out was at 11.00 so we left the hotel and walked five minutes down the road to the train station we had found. The plan was working. We bought two tickets at $5.80 each and went below to the platform to wait for our train to Circular Quay. Sydney has a brilliant train system. You can go anywhere in the city by train, and 11 minutes later we were on board and riding the rails to town. Five stops down the line we stopped at Circular Quay, possibly the busiest place in Sydney, or at least it seemed to us.
Cynthia at Circular Quay. Syd. harbour bridge and our ship in rear
Harbour ferry traffic at Circular Quay
It was teeming with people, many of whom, like us, were about to board the ship. The pre-boarding procedure was flawless and soon we were eating our lunch on board. It had taken us just one hour to get from the hotel room to our room on board. Official time for boarding was 3.30p.m. but we were eating lunch on board by 12.30.
Lunch on ship with Neville and Margaret Jenkins of Carmarthen, W. Wales
We met Neville and Margaret Jenkins from Carmarthen as we boarded and had our meal with them. We’d also met Peter and Barbara, a couple from Exmouth in Devon. The food was great and after lunch we went to see if our bags were there in our cabin. They were, so Cynth unpacked and we relaxed. An hour or so later we were back on the dock haring to a news agent’s place to get the free Wiggles calendar for Oliver. As soon as we had it we high-tailed it back on board and tried to get an email off to the family to let them know we’d made it to the ship. Wifi on board is a horrendous price, so I sent one email and promised no more. It was time for dinner, so we joined our table guests, four ladies from Oz who are cruising in pairs. After the meal, which was superb, we saw the show and watched a movie about the seniors’ dance team installed by the New Jersey Nets Basketball team in 2007. It was called Gotta Dance and was very good. We hit the sack about 22.30 after moving our watches ahead one hour as we headed towards N.Z.
Sunday Dec.05. (At Sea)
We woke a little late after losing an hour of sleep last night. We had not slept well for a panel seemed to be loose in the wall of our cabin and something seemed to be rattling all night. It was as if a woodpecker was tapping away close to our heads. Also, the room was pitch black and we had no alarm clock. Sadly, we missed the ecumenical service on board but will make sure we get to it next week, for we have now figured out the wake up call system. We had a leisurely breakfast, visited the library to do the quizzes there and to choose some books. The day was cloudy with light showers. As lunch-time rolled around, the Captain’s noon report told us we were crossing the Tasman sea, doing about 18 knots. We were about one third of the way towards Milford Sound on the southern tip of North Island, New Zealand. We had 600+ miles to go, having done just over 200.
As the afternoon rolled on, the skies cleared and it was hot. We spent a lot of time reading in the shade on the outer decks, doing a little walking and playing shuffleboard. There is always something to do if we just take a peek at the day’s activities. Tonight was a formal dress night for dinner, so I made sure my medals were polished and the scabbard of my sword gleaming. It was also meet the captain night and ours is a Canadian. We all piled into one of the dance lounges and listened to his welcome speech. He was very good, spicing his chat with a little humour as well as pertinent info. It was fun people watching from our seats. We saw dresses of all types. One lady looked as if a parachute had landed on her, so different was her gown. As always, Cynthia looked gorgeous. We had a couple of glasses of champagne and then headed into dinner.
Our Aussie ladies were at the table looking resplendent in their evening dresses. We had another lovely dinner and made sure not to over-indulge. As quickly as we could after the meal, we went back to the cabin to get out of the suit, tie and fancy duds in favour of more comfy stuff. Then we headed to the deck for a quick walk before going to the theatre to catch the evening show which was called Piano Man. It was based on the music of Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow and Ray Charles. The singers and dancers were brilliant, and we thoroughly enjoyed their efforts. I’ve often wondered how those dancers manage to cope with the pitch and roll of the ship and not end up plastered against the walls of stage left or right. Following the show, we headed back to the cabin to see if we could regain some of the sleep we’d lost last night due to the time change and the rattling wall. (By the way, our cabin attendant Manuel, and no relation to him of Fawlty Towers, fixed the wall after I’d mentioned it to him this morning). Tonight we lose another hour as we sail ahead to the land of the long white cloud. Already I’m looking forward to our return, when we regain those lost hours of sleep.
Mon. Dec.06
We had set our wake-up call for 08.15, so Cynthia could eat at her usual; time. However, due to the time change and the ship’s clocks changing at 02.00, the computer got fouled up and our wake-up call came at 09.15. We were fouled up again. as I headed for the shower I noted a white envelope had been shoved under our door. It contained a note saying we had been randomly chosen to be inspected by the N.Z. customs and immigration. It told us we should be at a meeting place on the ship at 06.45 a.m. on Wednesday. I suspected that this was due to the authorities finding out we were of Welsh descent, and as Wales had been formidable adversaries of the N.Z. All Blacks rugby teams of the past, they were out to get even with us. We’ll let you know how things turn out.
Our breakfast was simple and good. Following our meal we headed to the library to do our regular quizzes and then it was on to play Split The Difference Trivia. We enjoyed that and decided it would be a good way to play trivia with friends at home. The weather was grey and blustery, with temp. about 14C. We did our rounds of the deck to move the food along and melt the fat. That done, we headed to the room and got our books. We found a quiet place to read and got stuck into the novels. What a life! We’ll try not to weaken.
Soon it was lunch-time and we ate sparingly. Cynthia decided she was going to catch up on some of her missed zzzzzs, while I went to the movie theatre to watch ‘Inception’. I lasted about ten minutes into the movie then exited gracefully. It was requiring too much brain power for me to keep up with the movie, so I enjoyed grabbing a coffee and reading my novel instead. Around 16.00 I went to the room to check on Cynthia. Just as I put my key into the door, it opened as she had planned to come search for me. She left in search of tea, while I stretched out on the bed and continued my novel. I also updated the trip diary on the computer in readiness for the next posting whenever that might be.
Dinner as usual was at 18.00 and the food was great, as was the service. Following dinner we headed to the show to see Encore, a trio of young Aussie singers. They were two sopranos and a tenor. they performed songs from many of the great shows, Les Mis, Phantom and even turned their voices to some operatic numbers too. Whatever they sang was enjoyed by a packed theatre. People rose to their feet to give a warm standing ovation to the three youngsters who had performed so well. Later in the evening we tried to “Finish The Lyrics” of songs played in the Schooner Bar. We had a marked lack of success but it was fun trying. Around 23.30 we hit the sack, preparing for a calmer day in Milford sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. We don’t go ashore… rather we explore the fjords of the southern tip of South Island.
Tues. Dec. 07.
This morning the ship entered Milford Sound (named after the west Wales town).
Cruising Milford Sound
It had been a particularly bouncy night as the ship ploughed through some heavy going in the Tasman Sea. Suddenly all was calm. It was 07.00 when I first noticed the difference of the attitude of the ship. Later, we heard the ship’s thrusters turning the ship. As our alarm went off at 08.15 we realised the ship was probably into the sound as far as it was going and turning to leave. We headed up to the main dining room this time to have breakfast. What regaled us was the sight of sheer cliffs going by the window as the Rhapsody prepared to leave Milford Sound. Actually, we were not too dismayed as the view was something like that of Bowen Island from the port side of the Nanaimo to Horshoe Bay ferry as the ship is about to enter Horseshoe Bay. In saying that, I don’t wish to detract from the beauty of this particular area of New Zealand, for it is spectacular. It’s just that we, in Canada, are spoiled because of the scenery we have at home. The ship cruised on, back into the open waters of the ocean beyond the sound. As it turned to port leaving the sound, 50 knot winds whipped us and heavy seas were running. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun shone wonderfully. However, one lap around the deck convinced us that would be enough for today. One lived in danger of being blown over the rails and in saying that, I kid you not.
In Foveaux Strait between South Island of N.Z. and Stewart Island
We continued to cruise around the south-west tip of south island, heading for Doubtful Sound, the next area of calm water. We saw an enormous albatross soaring ahead of the ship. It took no notice of the vessel as it skimmed over the crests of the waves, not once beating its wings. About mid-morning we entered Doubtful sound. It was named by Captain Cook as he had doubts as to whether or not he could get his ship into the sound under sail. The sound was lovely, but once again very much like our Desolation Sound. The chief difference I could determine might be that the slopes of these fjords are covered in deciduous trees and shrubs, where conifers and evergreens clothe the sides of our landscapes. As we exited Doubtful Sound, I could quite understand why Captain Cook had his doubts about entry into the sound. With 3-5 metre seas running, and 50 knot winds blowing. the entrance was very narrow. Of course, it was the exit for us. As we reached the exit and the captain made a fairly hard turn to port, we were in the Windjammer café. Trays and cutlery went flying in the room and for an instant, there was chaos. Once the ship made the turn and headed full on into the seas, order was restored.
Approximately 15.00 we entered Dusky sound. It will be the last sheltered water we experience before we reach Dunedin tomorrow morning. I headed downstairs to the cabin to catch a much needed snooze, while Cynthia took on the Sudoku Challenge in the Schooner Bar. Later, as we exited Dusky Sound, the wind increased and the swells deepened. No-one walked the decks as we were all hunkered down inside even though the sun still shone brilliantly. I tip my hat to Capt. Cook and his men.
Dinner time rolled around and two of our dinner table companions, Jenny and Val were absent. They hadn’t been getting enough veggies in the dining room, so they decided they would feed themselves in the Windjammer. Ivy and Doreen, the two elderly ladies also on our table were present. We had a good time, just the four of us as we shared a little more of our lives with them and they with us.
The ship’s crew has been readying the ship for Christmas. Poinsettias and Christmas trees are appearing around the ship. The great open space at the middle of the ship, and called the Centrum, is especially beautiful with decorations.
Gingerbread Houses on display in the Centrum.
Christmas Tree in Centrum
Grandpa preparing to eat Gingerbread church
We headed for the room and feet up for half an hour before making our way to the theatre to see the evening’s entertainment. Tonight there was The Headliner Show featuring a guy who sang music made famous by Elvis, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He was good but probably the weakest act of all we’ve seen so far. Following the show we found the conference rooms where we meet with the N.Z. customs and immigration officials at the ungodly hour of 06.45. The All Blacks get their own back!
