We were up very early this morning; Jeff, to get his two large boxes examined by Customs officials before mailing them home and me, to move out of my Tenth Baja Deck cabin to Jeff's fourth deck cabin. Once we sail later today I should be assigned a new cabin which will be mine until Dubai, when we do the whole pack n' move thing again.
After we cleared the ship we walked and Jeff carried those two heavy boxes about a mile to catch a CAT boat. After a forty minute ride he settled me in a nice spot in the public library which features free WiFi!, while he took those boxes another mile down the road to the post office.
Today is the ideal day to be in this part of Brisbane, because there is a Wednesday Market Festival each week. There are about fifty vendors outside selling yummy things like kettle corn, French pastries, dim sum, dumplings, fruits and vegetables as well as craft items. This is located at the bridge/river end of Queen Street. Queen Street itself is a high end shopping street and goes on forever it seems. We will only have about two hours to shop and have some lunch, visit the ATM and buy and write postcards...we have to be back onboard by around 3:00 and we have to allow an hour for the trip back by boat and feet!
Just a quick note on the changeover for this next cruise, which is divided into segments. This first segment is from Sydney/Brisbane to Dubai. Most of the passengers carry elite Princess status which means they have traveled more than a couple hundred nights on Princess ships in the past. Many of these are returning around-the-world trippers. These first few days have changed the personality of the ship in subtle but noticeable ways. It's more uncomfortable because it doesn't feel friendly as folks try to figure out the ship and how things are organized and scheduled. And there are more unsettled people wandering about moving very very slowly, due to too much anti seasickness medication perhaps. It's kind of like the zombies thing. It will probably settle down in a few more days, but it's not too much fun right now.
I can't remember if I mentioned our lunch yesterday in the dining room with two of the entertainers. We closed down the place after a very funny time. And last night, the other entertainment was The Aussie Boys, three young men singers who did a short program of all Australian songs of which I knew two and liked both of them...songs that is, not the men. I would rate their program fair because it was so short and a little cheesy too.
THURSDAY, MAY 23
So, that part about sorting out the room was a falsehood and fiasco as apparently I don't exist onboard right now and because of a changeover in front desk folks no one knows what to do with me. As a result I spent the night in Jeff's cabin, and neither of us slept well. A quick stop at the front desk yet again this morning (Thursday, May 23) gives us the following info, " There are no vacant cabins." We know this isn't true because 200 people got on in Sydney and 300 people got off in Brisbane. But, somewhat officially, I exist again, and am officially in Jeff's cabin which is good and notsogood. Good? I pay nothing for the days I'm in his cabin. NOTSOGOOD? Everything else...we can't sleep well...I purr, Jeff sleeps very lightly. I'm somewhat claustrophobic and the lower bunk is difficult at best...I guess I thought he would have two twins side by side. I spent part of the night standing by the portholes, cooling off (it was very warm), and talking myself into getting back in the close quartered bed. Also, Crew rooms do not include hair dryers...a small problem for me as I didn't bring one along and passenger rooms have them.
Tonight is a formal night so I've got to dig out something to iron, then wear. Bonus is that I can use the crew iron and won't have to fight with the grumpy laundry ladies. Our entertainment for the night will be seeing Donna Campbell, who does a show featuring all Dolly Parton songs and stories. Jeff said she's very good, so we will go to see her.
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