First day of spring (fall) in Melbourne was cool and cloudy. It was perfect weather to visit Healesville Wildlife Preserve and check on the critters. Last year, the endangered species here were sent to the Melbourne Zoo for R & R as the bush fires threatened. Everyone was thrilled when three Tassie Devils were born. Guess the parents thought they were on a second honeymoon. We visited the usual suspects, three varieties of kangaroo, the devils, emus, wombats but the platypus was a no show. The best part for me was the wild birds that came to feed at the emus’ feeder. There was a Rainbow Lorikeet and a Gullah (a variety of cockatoo) and a wonderful, colorful parrot. The Sulfur Crested Cockatoo screeched overhead. After two hours strolling the grounds we left for the Rochford ... read more

Mooring east of Eden. Our port of call was supposed to be Bateman’s Bay but was cancelled at the last minute. Certain improvements to the harbor were not made as promised and the mouth of the estuary is surrounded by sand bars and quite shallow. The Captain decided that it was too dangerous to call and instead we diverted to Eden. Instead of rushing to shore, I took advantage of the quiet and stayed on board in the morning. After taking my walk I took my Kindle and went to the pool for a dip and soaked up a little sun. I enjoyed a Mexican lunch poolside and then I indulged myself in a massage and facial. By then it was close to four so I decided to take the tender and explore Eden. There were ... read more

Day 1 - Thunder down under----NOT, but it is overcast and cool. The flight in from JFK was remarkably comfortable. Qantas served tasty dinners with complementary good Western Au wine, a lovely hot breakfast and a bag of snacks to time me over in between. I LOVE flying internationally. I also caught up on my reading on my new Kindle and enjoyed a marathon movie night; The Blind Side, Up in the Air, and Inglorious Bastards. A fellow was on the aisle from LA to Sydney but the middle seat was empty. This time I brought a pillow and was able to get plenty of good sleep. Probably the most comfortable long flight I’ve been on. Am now waiting for my room to be ready and plan to shower, change, explore the area, and grab a ... read more

STOCKHOLM Jill and Nicholas, Jill’s son who acts as chauffeur, meet us at the pier. Jill’s father and Marion’s mother were childhood friends in the UK. This is the third or fourth time that Marion and Jill have met but they are as close as cousins. We drive to the “Old Town” and wander the medieval lanes. There are few tourists out this early but soon the narrow streets will be impassable. Timing is everything! The buildings are beautifully maintained and the décor is sometimes whimsical. We pass the Academy where the Nobel prizes are awarded except for the Peace Prize that is presented in Oslo, Norway. We stroll by the Royal Palace where the Royals no longer live, having decided on a smaller palace nearby. We pass the narrowest street in the old city, just ... read more

THE HERMITAGE The museum complex known as the Hermitage consists of five buildings. The first is the Winter Palace built by Peter the Great but never lived in by him. Empress Elizabeth was it’s first Royal resident. The Palace is in the Baroque style so loved by Elizabeth, with grand staircases and elaborately gilded walls and painted ceilings. Catherine the Great was Elizabeth’s daughter-in-law and a great art collector. She commissioned agents all over Europe to purchase collections as they came to market. Her first acquisition consisted of 250 pieces that had been owned by a German merchant. When it arrived in Russia, she realized that the Winter Palace was not suitable to display art as the walls were marble and silk. So, she built what is now known as the Hermitage, attached to the Winter ... read more