November 15, 2024

Super sunny Grenada!

Above is the view from my balcony today. Downtown St George's was just outside the port. We were the only ship in town today, so we had an easy walk from the ship to the terminal to the the downtown. The sun was scorching so I waited till after lunch, to go for a stroll around the downtown. Grenada is a volcanic island and you are greeted by the rising hills as soon as you step out of the port.

As soon as I walked into the terminal building I saw the Christmas decorations and heard the carols playing. It is so odd, when it is so warm here! I also have no perspective on month and season. Just feels like a really long summer vacation has been going on! I walked up some of the hills of St George's to get the view from the top. Schools were letting out, so the streets were busy with everyone walking home. I love the motto " No Success without Effort" ! Oh so true! I wandered into a few shops had some conversations with locals, bought a pool noodle to use on the ship and tried Soursop fruit for first time - was good - tasted like watermelon even though it is small and white flesh, with a pit inside each section, inside green spiny exterior.

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.