We were scheduled to leave Sydney harbor at 4, but there was a medical emergency involving a crew member and we didn’t leave until a little after 5.  We later found out that it was Samuel.  Samuel is the wonderful voice you hear when you order room service.  We also found out that he is okay and will rejoin us tomorrow in Melbourne.

Sydney harbor is a beautiful place to sail in and out of.  I was perched in my favorite chair on deck 9 and the sail away party on the pool deck was in full swing.  It’s a great life for sure.

Kim enjoyed her evening at the opera, and I enjoyed a rather quiet evening on the veranda. 

Quiet until the fireworks show started, that is. 

When we arrived in Sydney, the immigration department required an off the ship face to face meeting, so, I went out at the last minute knowing that we would not be allowed to board until the entire ship was empty.  I went for a stroll over to the railway station and did some people watching. I know some of you are betting on how many times I go off the ship. Make another check mark.  When I got back to the ship, no one was allowed on board yet.  Apparently, the ship” lost “ a passenger and she had to be found before the immigration officers would allow us back on the ship. A few minutes later it was resolved and we were allowed back on board. 

223 passengers left us on the first day in Sydney.  Most of our newfound friends left.  232 new passengers embarked in Sydney.  The next leg ends in Perth in 16 days.

We have one sea day then we will be in Melbourne for two days. 

Birds in Sydney.

Even the homeless camps are upscale in Sydney.

There is actually a tour you can take to climb to the top of this bridge.

It was a good day for:

Pool Chrinicles, you just can’t make this shit up.

Just try that!

When I got on the elevator to go to dinner on deck 8, Kim choose to dine in suite.  Another couple joined me in the elevator. I asked them “what floor”?  They said 8.  Okay me too. Then as we started up from the sixth floor, he said this was wrong, we wanted to go to 6.  I said that’s where we got in.  No, it’s not. We need to go to the restaurant on 6.  Well, Kim is eating in that same restaurant tonight, I thought.  It’s called “room service”. 

We’re all familiar with the term you can’t fix stupid, now I will add you can’t argue with stupid either. 

There were several visitors on board including the couple sitting with their friends at the table next to me.  He was a real know it all.  He was also very wealthy (according to him). 

He emphasized repeatedly how much he paid for stuff and how valuable things were.  He explained that as one increases their status in the Seabourn Club, they are given a pin, like this one, (pointing to a lapel pin he was wearing).  Being “Diamond Elite”, they had them all.  “These pins are more valuable than all my wife’s jewelry combined”.  Well, we have a bunch of them too, I don’t see that they have any value at all.  I guess I’ll have to check Ebay.  Then came the one that almost made me laugh out loud. “If you find a cruise line that you like, stick with them.  The more you cruise with them, the more perks you get.  Like as Diamond Elite, we get 25% off of excursions and other stuff like wines.  I can buy a $1,000 bottle of wine for only $750”.  I’m sorry, but if you can’t find any free wine you like on this ship, you just don’t like wine. 

My friend is still with me.

More later…