by Ron Largent | Jan 25, 2018 | Australia, Australia and the Rain, Cairns, Travel
After the 14 hour flight from SFO to Sydney…we had about a 4 hour layover at the beautiful Sydney Airport then boarded Virgin Australia for the 3 hour flight north to Cairns….in tropical and beautiful Northern Australia…in the state of Queensland.
The Cairns Airport is not big and bustling for a port city that is a travel resort destination…but very clean and easy to get around. We were met at the baggage area by our transfer driver…and drove slowly into the City Center. Very tropical and quiet setting, with gorgeous trees and plants….lush growth.
We arrived at the Pacific Hotel…easy check in to our 9th floor room overlooking the park and good views of the Harbor. This is a remodeled old hotels, actually one of the first along the Esplanade, which is the big tree lined boulevard right on the water. Cairns location is key, in that the mountains come right down to the water….so as we look out at the Bay and inlet…we see the mountains. Very dramatic views. The room is very nice, clean, and well done, and large….and after a few moments decided to eat…..so asked the manager for a good restaurant and he said across the street at the Casino restaurant. Well, in that it is a non-smoking facility, we decided to give it a try and the restaurant was very nice and more of a cafe…..and we had a delicious sandwich dinner…..great food. Back to the hotel and a good nights sleep for both of us to get on Australia time.
We woke early…went down to a full buffet breakfast….then decided to start to see the city….walking. The main shopping streets are Abbott and Shields, which leads to the Cairns Mall. Many shops along the way and the street itself is all pedestrian with huge trees..much like the feel of Hawaii or even Cancun…but very clean and neat….and lots of sidewalk cafe’s….just a neat place to stroll and shop….and literally running right up from the beach and the Esplanade Lagoon.
The Mall was exceptional for a smaller city like Cairns. Very clean and all in white with lots of plants and great decorations…very, very modern 2 levels with a huge 12 restaurant food court, where we had lunch at the Muffin Break…..great quiche for Audy and a cold coffee with ice cream and whipped cream for me…and a bit of the quiche. Great food. We continued to window shop,etc…very nice clerks…just a great place to shop and stroll and eat….very friendly and pleasant in every respect. And, while we were inside, raining off and on outside…and as I write and it is 4 pm…a downpour. Fortunately for the shops to and from the mall….sidewalk areas are covered….so folks are use to a lot of rain…..
Back to the room at 3…..and some general observations…..1. Very clean and very orderly city…a lot of the British influence like Singapore . 2. Merchant attitude is one of friendliness and helpfulness almost to an amaze degree. 3. Virtually no homeless or trashy looking folks around…..minority’s are here but not too noticeable, except for the Japanese…who have been here for years…and many are shopkeepers, etc. 4. Very modern but in a tropical laid back kind of way….no big new skyscrapers, although the views here of beaches and mountains are wonderful.
So, off to dinner shortly, then to visit some of the night shopping markets, which are advertised, so will see that they are all about. More to come on this….and more to come on our day to the Rain Forest, and this is a real one and one of the most famous in the World….tomorrow. As of now, so glad we came to Cairns….well worth it for one and all…..may add a bit after the night shopping…should be fun.
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by Ron Largent | Jan 23, 2018 | Uncategorized
Today we leave for Australia…and it all started with driving from Redding to San Francisco…(SFO)….and then after check in we went to the USO and Audy could take a nap, which she did. We will go over to the United lounge in the International Terminal shortly….and we board at 10 PM…13 hours to Sydney….
We will have about a 3 hour lay over in Sydney…then on to Cairns, about a 3 hour flight. Cairns is a resort area known for access to the Great Barrier Reef.
So, we shall see….as we get ready for our next adventure…..
by Ron Largent | Jan 6, 2018 | Asian Travel, Cruise Line Deals, European Travel, Germany, International Travel, Special Events Travel Deals, Special travel deals, Travel, Travel the World, Uncategorized
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by Ron Largent | Jan 6, 2018 | Alaska, Alborg, Asian Travel, Austria, Bavaria, Bella Russe, Bergen, Bern, Britain, Budapest. Hungary, Bullet Train, Copenhagen, Cruise Line Deals, Danube Canal at Nuremberg, Danube River, Danube River and Viking River, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Eastern Germany, Eidfjord, England, Europe, European Travel, Finland, Fjords, Gdansk, Geneva, Germany, Glacier Bay, Glaciers, Great Britain, Gstaad, Hapsburg Dynasty, Helsinki, Holland America Cruise Lines, Hungary, Hungary food, Iceland, Iceland Hiking, Iceland Tours, Icelandair, Inter City Express (ICE), International Travel, IR Train, Juneau, Latvia, Lausanne, Leipzig, Lenin Square, London, London Concerts, London Marble Arch, London Marriott Hotel, lucerne, Maria Theresa, Matthias Church, Montreaux, Munich, Music in London, Northern Europe Cruise, Norway, Nuremberg, Piccadilly Circus London, Poland, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Albert Hall London, Russia, Russian Market, Salzburg, Sawyer, Sitka, Ski The Alps, South Sawyer Glacier, Special Events Travel Deals, Special travel deals, St Martins in the Field Church London, St Stephens Basilica, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Sweden, Switzerland, Tallin, The Alps, The Fjords, The Masters, Tracy Arn Fjord, Trafalgar Square in London, Travel, Travel the World, Ultimate Sports Events., Uncategorized, Vienna, Viking ATLA River Cruise Ship., Viking Cruises, Viking River, Viking River Cruises, Vikings, Zurich
Effective January 1st…I am the Redding agent for Viking Cruises, and am very pleased with this opportunity. We just completed our 3rd Viking Cruise…and I am now “a believer” in Viking. They are great. No wonder they are consistently rated #1 among the Cruise lines.
Viking Cruises, both in their Ocean and River Cruises, offers cruises where you truly explore your destination-through its food, culture, countryside, and customs. You learn about the lands through which you travel via informative talks that bring history to life through cultural adventures, in-depth pre-trip materials, and on-demand programing-all designed to help you experience the most from your travels.
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by Ron Largent | Dec 22, 2017 | Britain, England, European Travel, Great Britain, International Travel, London, London Concerts, London Marble Arch, London Marriott Hotel, Music in London, Organist, Piccadilly Circus London, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Albert Hall London, Special Events Travel Deals, Special travel deals, St Martins in the Field Church London, Trafalgar Square in London, Travel, Travel the World, Uncategorized
Another MUST…if you are interested in British history…and especially WW II….and what led up to it. How we missed the Churchill War Rooms museum and exhibit is a good question, for this is a great exhibit and history lesson in what happened leading up to the war…and then what Winston Churchill did to lead Britain to victory.
This is a good 2 hours if you take your time…located right off of Whitehall in the heart of the government offices and right around the corner from #10 Downing Street…which was the office for Winston Churchill as Prime Minister….and literally across the street from the War Rooms.
The War Rooms is the entire area where the war was conducted by the Prime Minister. This was the Command Center, the Ops Center, and the Communication Center for the leadership in the Government. It is very well re-created in the exact rooms used back during the War….and shows the various players involved and how they were involved.
The Museum is very well done….and I found it most interesting after going through the Rooms themselves….as it kind of puts all in perspective. The way the tour is set up, the Museum is in the middle, but thanks to Carrie having been there previously….she suggested the Museum at the end, and I agree.
Just a great part of the London history…so put it on your list..
Following the War Rooms, we went to the Royal Albert Hall for the Classic Christmas with London Concert Orchestra and London Concert Chorus…and then the famous Boys Choir. Another great show…more Classic than on Wednesday with not as much “flair”…but superb classic performance. As good as it gets if you like excellent orchestra and choir, with the massive organ…..just a GREAT EVENING of great music..
