The first evening at sea is traditionally the Captain's welcome dinner. Michael and I missed the receiving line and reception in favor of visiting with fellow passengers in the bar. Michael looked wonderful in his tuxedo and I felt elegant in my sparkly evening wear and diamond necklace (small diamonds, but real.)
We had dinner with the Cruise Consultant, Anna who is from New Zeeland. She hosted us, another American Couple and two single Australian gentlemen. We had mostly interesting and entertaining conversation while eating caviar, salad and lobster accompanied by wine. The gentleman from Chicago did insist on bringing up U.S. politics. His observations about the state of American politics were not only not factually correct; they were not particularly interesting to non Americans. His attitude was apparently influenced by several pre dinner cocktails. Even though it was pointless, I couldn't help mentioning that this is not the only time in our history that extreme partisanship has been the order of the day. It occurs elsewhere in the world too.
Afterward Michael and I went on deck to view the stars. Unfortunately they were clouded over. We had to content ourselves with looking at the lights of small Queensland communities as the coast of eastern Australia passed to our port (left) side. We finished the evening visiting with a delightful Australian couple over cognac.
Wednesday (still Tuesday in the U.S.) we sailed up the Brisbane River to Brisbane, Australia, the capital of Queensland. We did not sign up for the rainforest hike or the tour of the Koala sanctuary. Instead we walked around the downtown area and through the City Botanical Garden. We had hiked in rainforests in Panama and Costa Rica last fall and the Koalas on the Brisbane tour were in cages. Wandering the city was more interesting. The city is a mixture of new office towers and old colonial era buildings. We walked back toward the shuttle pick up point by way of cutting through Queensland University of Technology. A new term is just about to start and everywhere there were orientation groups looking a bit stunned. We are starting to get into the tropics. The climate is similar to Florida in the summer.
The shuttle bus that was to bring us back to the ship was late. There were two of them and one had been in an accident earlier. Fortunately no one was hurt but the driver who eventually showed up to bring us back pointed out the broken glass where an auto had run into the other bus. Interestingly, the tour director at the ship knew the busses were late but had not been informed why.
Sailing out down the twisty river in the early evening was spectacular. I watched everything light up. The stars came out and I saw Orion upside down again as well as the Southern Cross and Canopus.
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