Cairns Monday 10th February

Posted byvwhitesidePosted inUncategorized

It was 0600 alarm, 0630 breakfast and 0730 departure for Melbourne Airport for the 3 hour flight to Cairns.

Our best selfie ever, using a mirror. Taken in our hotel room before 0630 breakfast.

We had our best ever airport experience as well. I’m sorry I forgot to take a photo of Alex organising two neat rows of 42 passengers’ luggage, the 42 passengers standing well back as ordered, Alex doing one row; the Quantas man doing the other, attaching labels and baggage labels at great speed. We retrieved our luggage tags which had been gently placed on each case. The male passengers were then asked to help lift all the luggage on to the conveyer belt at our dedicated check in desk. The desk was well away from all the other desks in a lovely empty area. We then set off for security and the gate. The whole process was a masterclass in efficient organisation. I said our guide was a bit edgy; he is the sort who makes sure he gets good service, the absolute opposite of our ineffectual Queenstown guide. Really really sorry I didn’t take a photo.

The temperature was around 36° when we landed in Cairns. Alex sent us off to follow the blue line to reach Phil (the driver) and his coach. The heat hit us hard.
The flight was good though the lunch, curried chicken dumplings, was not. This is the view from our bedroom in the 5 star Hilton Cairns Hotel.
The tropical atrium outside the rooms.
After unpacking and resting we swam in the hotel pool. It is the biggest hotel pool I’ve seen. we chatted to a couple of Canadians claiming Scottish and English ancestry going as far back as the 1500s. It seems to be a common North American obsession.
We simply stepped out of the hotel to find ourselves at the waterfront. It is a beautiful setting.
We enjoyed fajitas and a drink here.
Monday is 2 for 1 fajitas day!
These two plates make one serving of Tiramasu. I thought the waitress had misunderstood my order for one Tiramasu and an extra plate, but I was wrong.
Others in the group came back from a walk awed by the local bats. They are much bigger than our local Pipistrelles.

Tomorrow is a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It should be quite exciting.

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