It was a bright and sunny morning, so we headed back to the Rocks for a light breakfast in a trendy little cafe, then onwards to the Bridge Walk shop so that Maureen can get a tee shirt to prove she did the bridge walk. From there it was onto one of the Pylons on the bridge, which has a lookout point on it.
Up a mere 200 steps to the top, so Maureen opted to stay at the bottom! The views up there are terrific as you’re the equivalent to well over half the height of the bridge. There’s also a number if interesting exhibits and bridge building memorabilia on the way up and at the top. Lots of interesting statistics for Sunday quiz questions.
A stroll back through the Rocks and we were back at Circular Quay. From there we took the ferry across to Tarronga Park Zoo, not with any intention of going to the zoo, but walking along the foreshore round a couple of the bays and inlets before catching the ferry back. The forecast was a 90% chance of rain in the afternoon and no longer had we arrived at the zoo jetty, than the clouds began to gather, so a long walk was going to be out of the question. We ambled down the footpath from the zoo entrance to a lookout over the harbour and looked at the gathering clouds, when suddenly Maureen noticed a rather large spider in the middle of a web fight in front of us. A large,harmless, huntsman, but still not something you would want scurrying across your lounge carpet on a summers evening. By now the dark clouds were looming, so we opted to return to the ferry terminal and catch the next one back to Circular Quay.
Onto another ferry and were were at Darling Harbour, by which time the rain was falling persistently! Sanctuary came by way of a chocolate shop inside one of the retail areas where we had a hot chocolate and a substantial slice of Toblerone cheese cake. By now the rain was bucketing down, so we decided to don our wet weather gear and return to the hotel, which was a short walk away. Mr Bungalow was nowhere to be seen so either he had worked out the lift system or had decided it was all too much and gone back to Blighty.
After drying out and a little relaxation it was time for dinner. As we were on the edge of Chinatown and Bev had suggested a particular restaurant that they frequented, we decided that a Chinese was the order of the day. Fortunately, the rain had stopped temporarily and we were able to walk the 100yds or so to the restaurant without getting soaked again. Opposite the hotel was the Qantas arena, bit like the O2 in London, and there was a concert on this evening. Ed Sherrin was the headline act and there were thousands of people milling around , some looking decidedly wet. Having been seated fin the restaurant for just a few minutes we were soon accompanied, at an adjacent table, by a couple, who came from East Grinstead. They were our age ‘ish’ and seemed like perfect candidates to be on our table on the cruise. In chatting to them, he used to be the china and glass buyer for Allders department store in Croydon, somewhere that we both knew well. The lady used to own the beauty shop in East Grinstead and they have a daughter about the same age as our friends daughter, who also live in East Grinstead. Small world! Whilst having dinner, which was superb food, the rain was coming down in stair rods and it was looking like another soaking on the ay home. Again, we were lucky, the rain stopped just long enough to get back to the hotel before it started again.
Wednesday 25th March - Departure Day
One of our cases was considerably heavier than when we arrived as we had now packed our fleeces, jeans etc that we flew out in. As there was a theoretical 20KG limit on the case weight, we decided to pop over to Paddy’s Market across the road and buy a cheap holdall. It was only 09.00, but the first cruisers were checking out and storing their bags with the concierge. We did not have to check out until 10.00 and the transport was scheduled for 12.00 to take us to the ship. Did these people know something we didn’t?
Having packed the newly purchased bag, it was around 10.30, so we decided to check out and store our bags away whilst we ventured down the road for a spot of breakfast. It came in the way of a street cafe and a magnificent egg and bacon roll, large enough to suppress the healthiest of appetites. A short walk round a few blocks to burn just a couple of calories saw us back at the hotel around 11.30, only to be confronted with the same throng of people and bags queuing to get onto the two coaches outside the hotel. Clearly these people did know something we didn’t. Grabbing our cases, we joined the happy band of cruisers, who's average age had reduced considerably from Monday morning. The young ones (sub 70) must have been shipped in whilst we weren’t looking. The couple in front of us noticed that everyone else had Cunard labels identifying the passenger, cruise number and stateroom number, which in effect gave us a pretty good chance that our bags would arrive in our cabin. They had nothing and when he enquired where we got our labels from, we told them it was in the pack of information from Cunard and there was a copy of them in black and white sent from the travel agents. Upon asking his wife where said information was, she replied in the bottom of the case!! It’s highly likely that their bags are still on the quayside.
THERE NOW FOLLOWS A VERY AGISM SECTION WHICH IS POLITICALLY INCORRECT, SO IF YOUR LIKELY TO BE OFFENDED, STOP READING!!!!!
Having seen our bags put onto a porters trolley, we were happy that we may well see them again later in the day. Upon entering the Ocean Passenger Terminal in Sydney Harbour, we were all given medical forms to fill in, with some basic questions to just tick boxes to confirm that you did not have any contagious diseases, and you had not been to various parts of Africa or been in contact with anyone who has Ebola. Quite straight forward really, but no so for some of the more mature travellers as they enquired as to whether they should declare a whole range of ailments, none of which were on the form. Still, part one of the get out of Australia test was completed. Part 2 involved going up two floors in the lift and thankfully, Bungalow was nowhere in sight and even if he was, there was a nice young man to press the big buttons for you.
As the lift opened, there was the customary immigration queue and as we all approached the end of it another nice young man suggested that we all take a seat as there was no point in standing for any longer than necessary. This guy was smart!! Down we all sat as the next lift load sauntered and shuffled forward, but by the time they arrived Mr Smart had disappeared and they all started heading to the end of the queue. That sparked two reactions. One was that those seated immediately thought the buggars were queue jumping. Secondly, when those seated told them to sit here and not join the queue, they immediately thought that they were destined for some evil fete if they did not have to join the queue. It was easy to spot the ones who really wanted to put the hip replacement on the medical form, but their partners forbade them.
Mr Smart came back and the queue had now diminished to the point where he considered it safe to release the next batch of bodies loose on the Immigration service. We were fast out of the seats, which considering the competition, wasn’t difficult. Next stop checking in, which was another short queue, which quickly diminished. Check in was painless for most people, but there were a few stragglers, as they fought their way through bags to find their passports, which many had just put away! Checked in, there was only security standing between us and the black bodied QM2 towering above, on our left hand side. Would anyone fall at the last hurdle? Some tried. There was a member of staff telling us to remove all loose change, mobile phones, keys etc from our pockets and put them into the trays for the X ray machine. A simple enough instruction you would think. The two mature couples in front of us seemed to be having a great deal of trouble interpreting this instruction, so a very nice man went over to help. He very politely gave very clear concise instructions, a bit like talking in capital letters - but not shouting, although quite understandable, well almost. After a little more tutoring in emptying of pockets he returned to us, with a silly grin on his face and confessed that he only does this job because of the fun he has with sorting out passengers.
Having cleared the last hurdle, just before boarding there is the obligatory photo, which I’m sure hardly anyone ever buys, but it’s easier to smile than try to argue that you don’t want it taken. Snap - flash and we’re on board.
The always smiling crew soon pointed us in the right direction for our state room - two decks up and towards the bow on the starboard side- that’s front right for you land lubbers.
Once inside the stateroom, I have to say it was just a tad disappointing, it is much smaller than the other cabins we have had on previous cruises and rather than a balcony, it seems that we have an open space outside with a porthole and no glass in it! Whilst sitting in our deck chairs, we stare at a steel plate instead of an ocean view, very disappointing. Within about 15 mins our first case appears outside the cabin, followed 10 mins later by the second and a little later the third bag arrives. Within half an hour of boarding we have a full complement of luggage, which I suspect is more than the couple in front of us at the hotel has got. After unpacking and stowing everything away, we disembark again for a photo session around the harbour. We are not scheduled to leave until 7.00pm, but all hands on board by 6.30. However, for us newcomers, there’s boat drill at 5.00pm, so we need to be back in plenty of time.
Boat drill was much like the security session - we were told not to put on life jackets, but there were those that did! When we were told to put them on, those that did didn’t and a few managed the impossible and got them back to front. Trust me - that’s no mean feat. We don’t want to be behind them in the queue for the lifeboats!!
We were out on the stern (back) for the departure from Sydney as the sun had just set, so the view of the harbour bridge with the sunset behind was quite special. By the time the ship had manoeuvred off the birth and turned down the harbour is was dusk and the bridge and opera house were just being lit up. Within half an hour it was quite dark and only the city skyscrapers were still visible. It was now 8.00pm and time to change for dinner at 8.30.
Much to our relief, we were not sharing with Mr Know It or Bungalow, but with two charming couples of pretty much our age group. One couple from Lancashire and the other from Peterborough, both caravaners, but we won’t hold that against them.
Food and wine pretty much up to scratch, although dinner appears on the plate in one go, whereas we have been used to the veg being served separately. As always, the waiter/ess are brilliant, as is the Sommelier. After dinner it was a quick pint in the chart room bar before retiring.
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