October 21, 2024

Farewell Gibraltar! Monkey Play!

View of THE ROCK as we pulled away tonight at sunset off AFT patio seating at dinner. Wine glasses shook alitlle as we thrust off the dock, but what a beautiful way to be living! Have to keep pinching myself!


Today, I stayed on board the ship all day and just recharged. I have had a head cold for last 2 days and needed solid sleep and hydration. I sweated a good 2 hours playing pickleball in the afternoon and gave over my cabin to maintenance to replace some parts in my toilet vacuum system. A Win Win for All! We have been moving at an aggressive pace ever since leaving Belfast - so I was glad I had been here in Gibraltar before, and didn't feel the need to explore anymore. Lots of residents went to the top of THE ROCK to see and play with the monkeys! I preferred to do a quick face time with these 2 Monkey's!

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MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

By Patricia Patrick • February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.