Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

[drron29]

1 hour ago, Mayflower1 said:

Are they ever going to change the vegetables in Atlantide drron29 - they look so boring !!!!

A couple of times I managed to get them left off but most went back to the kitchen. A really bad example of fleet wide catering.

[drron29]

And the littlest church.

 

 

A big ant's nest. Slightly left of centre below the mangos.

 

One of the biggest frangipani trees I have seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow. Get the local news.

 

 

 

Obviously recent fires.

 

[drron29]

So i have completed a circuit of most of the town. Very relaxing views.

 

 

 

 

 

And now the freight port.

 

Across the road an imposing building. Was the second Customs house built in 1938 beside the original wooden building which was demolished.

 

 

Now Border Force.

 

Then the tender ride back. I thought it would be smoother as we were going with the swell. however the tide was coming in fast and 2 currents met making it extremely choppy for the first part.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

I was back to the ship after 2pm so it was down to the Arts Cafe for a light lunch. I went the savory option with a salad and salami on a bun. Rojaan went the sweet option with a fruit platter and banana bread.

 

 

 

Not long after we set sail heading for Cairns and the cruise's end. Though there was another sea day to enjoy.

 

 

 

We were to go through the narrow strait just off Cape York but the pilot thought it would be too dangerous so only pictures of Islands just north of the Cape and possibly the east coast of the cape.

 

 

 

Dinner in Atlantide.

 

 

 

 

For mains Rojaan asked for the chicken thigh appetiser and certainly got a larger serving. I had the chateaubriand.

 

 

[drron29]

During the morning only distant views of the Australian coast and reefs that are part of the Great Barrier Reef.

 

 

 

 

So it was off to our last Atlantide lunch.

 

 

Rojaan had the crab cake and the lamb. unlike me she likes meat very well done so this was perfect.

 

 

I had the Penne and then the squid which was not overcooked.

 

 

Then we both had the cheesecake for dessert.

 

 

[drron29]

The afternoon was spent watching the coast and the Reef, This I think is Point Flattery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a trawler in action of this island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Our last dinner.

 

Rojaan started with the prawn cocktail and then her favourite dish the NZ lamb.

 

 

I decided to try the vegetable vol au vent and I likedit.

 

I then had the lobster bisque and my favourite main the fillet steak.

 

 

And we both had the night's dessert.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Our last morning has us approaching the Cairns Cruise terminal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

The Hilton on the wharf.

 

 

 

 

 

The facade of an old pub.

 

 

 

 

We stayed on board until about 9.30 in the Arts Cafe. Our flight was just before 4pm but I was hoping if we left now we might find the Qantas checkin open before a previous flight. The fiendish plan worked perfectly as all look liked they had been checked in for the 10.30 flight so we walked in to empty check in lines and soon had left our bg behind and went to the qantas lounge for 5 hours.

 

From our flight I got one last look at our home for 14 days.

 

 

So that's all folks. In just 8 days time we leave for Japan for Christmas with our family. After Christmas they leave us to go skiing in Hokkaido whilst we head to Bangkok to warm ourselves up.

In 3.5 months we will again board the Muse in Bali and sail to Japan with a voyage around Honshu as well for cherry blossom viewing.

 

[QueSeraSera]

thanks for sharing @drron29 !  Learned some WW2 history plus worked up an appetite reading those menus 🙂

[Dimity]

Have so enjoyed your updates for the entire journey. We left the Muse in Singapore, have settled back into normal routine here in Sydney but your almost daily ruminations made us feel like we were still on board - like you we enjoy our food. I very briefly said hello to you on board after trivia one day - we were on the 'Pearls of the Sea' team but didn't do as well as your team. We are rejoining the Muse again in 2024 from Brisbane to Sydney via NZ so looking forward to those 15 days. Have a great Christmas with your family in Japan.