Australia Part 3... On the boat

It is Christmas Eve and we are ready to sail.  Our boat, the Celebrity Century is docked in Sydney Harbor, and we are ready to go... by the way, last count there were only 5 XXXXGolds left... not bad...

The view from Deck 11. 

The nice thing about the cruise is they let you on the boat to drop off all of your junk, then the lunch buffet opens up at noon, and since we weren't sailing until 5PM we were able to get back off and walk around some more.  In the back you can see a man playing a digeroo, and the guy behing the kids was playing the drums.  We bought a CD from them the day before, and came back to get a picture.

Back on the boat, this time we are sailing.

You can just make out the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  I love to stand on the deck and watch the scenery... and I was up there long after everyone else had gone down to the pool bar.

Santa had visited us in Daegu before we left for the trip, and we didn't know he would be making a surprise visit to the ship.  He did, and had special gifts for all the good boys and girls...

He also set up cookie decorating and arts and crafts... that guy rocks!

It was supposed to be summer down under, but we were heading further and further south (towards Antarctica) and it was getting colder and colder.  As you can see the deck is deserted.  The air was about 62 degrees, and the water, which comes straight out of the ocean was about 54.  I am the only polar bear on the cruise... of course I about gave myself hypothermia and had to have 3 cups of tea to stop shaking, but it was worth it for the picture :)

Christmas day formal dinner... luckily Santa brought the kids cruise wear!

As R-Man was getting ready he says, "I look like I work in an office... can you take my picture sitting at a desk?"  So we had to FIND a desk... not as easy as you might think on a cruise ship...

Sunset Christmas Day.

Next stop, Melbourne, Australia.  Again, the weather was pretty chilly, and of course I packed totally wrong, again.  We decided we would just get off the boat and walk around. 

Of course sometimes when you do that you wind up in some strange places.  Here we are walking back to the boat, along side of the train tracks.

Check  out the size of these hitchhikers!

The kids were beat, so we dropped them at the kids club and went back into town. 

Merry Christmas!

Our next stop is Burnie, Tasmania.  This place is just so cute!  It seems like the whole town is so friendly.  When you get off the boat there is a whole crew of people that volunteer their time to serve as welcomers, giving out maps, and shooing you to the bus.  They use the school buses to drive you from the port to the town... and there is free wi-fi in the makers market...

Behind the free wi-fi building there is a look-out where you can see a penguin colony.  Of course with our noisy kids we almost NEVER get to see any wildlife... and that still holds true in Burnie...

Although we did see one penguin out here on this rock... we really are far south to see a penguin! 

We loved the beach and digging in the sand... and the wi-fi... did I mention the wi-fi???

Of course, we overdressed and I made the kids take off their pants to play in the sand and water.  At first they were a little shy to be running around in their skivvies, but they got used to it quick... Here R-Man is making up a game.

On our way back to the bus we stop to shop at the Red Cross donation center, and of course to try someTasmanian beer!

Next stop... New Zealand!