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Dream vacation
  • Stephanie Douglass

Dream vacation

I never thought this early in life that I'd be going on my dream vacation. The opportunity arose last June, and I couldn't turn it down.
I'm starting in Auckland, New Zealand and will end in Sydney, Australia. Read more
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  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    My cruise shipOutside views of the marketAisles and aisles of vendors from souvenirs to shoes to paintingsFresh foods part of the market. Insane the amount of produce.Freshly made doughnuts. OMG... so good!

    Melbourne: Queen Victoria Market

    April 6, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Today, we docked in Melbourne, and our excursion took us to
    Queen Victoria Market aka SHOPPING 😁
    I provided a brief history from the website for the Market below.
    _____________
    The pictures today range from the sunrise in Port Melbourne to the buildings, houses, skyline, and the market while on the bus to and from the port. Sydney is next! Can't believe the cruise is almost over.
    _____________
    A Brief History

    Queen Vic Market HistoryOfficially opened on 20 March 1878, the Market has been serving the people of Melbourne for more than 140 years. The Market has seen many transformations and was added to the National Heritage List in recognition of its links to the early colonial population of Melbourne and its ability to demonstrate the principal characteristics of a 19th century metropolitan produce market.

    Also known affectionately as ‘Vic Market’ or ‘Queen Vic’, the Queen Victoria Market has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for more than a century. An historic landmark spread over two city blocks, it’s a vibrant and bustling inner-city market where you can shop at over 600 small businesses for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, local and imported gourmet foods, clothing and souvenirs.
    Use the link for more information about the Market’s history: https://qvm.com.au/about/    Read more

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    Dessert ExtravaganzaHolland America bread pudding

    Food

    April 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    No vacation is without food, especially on a cruise ship. Here's lots of random food pics mainly from dinner. Don't let the desserts fool you. They look good, but they were disappointing. Also, the lighting in the dining room wasn't great, so there's a shadow on some of the plates. 🙄😀
    These plates came with like no veggies or two sprigs of one. We ordered alternating plates of broccoli and mushrooms and cabbage and green beans. Some nights, I made my own plate from the items on the menu such as a salmon Caesar salad.
    Lastly, we had wonderful ladies who sat at the table beside us each night.    Read more

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler

    Sydney Opera House

    April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    Lots of pictures of the most photographed and iconic building here in Sydney. Some are from the cruise ship before disembarking; others from the harbor cruise or from actually going there in person. Tomorrow, I'll actually be touring the Sydney Opera House 😁
    Also, pictures of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It's quite spectacular too.    Read more

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    St. Lazarua Serbian Orthodox ChurchSydney Stock ExchangeMartin's PlaceKing's CrossEl Alamein fountainSt. James ChurchSt. Mary's CathedralABCBird's Nest restaurant

    Random views around Sydney

    April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    Lots of different scenes around Sydney with some random facts thrown in too.
    Sydney Stock Exchange - 9th largest in the world
    Convicts sent here made to work. They used to be sent to America until the American Revolution when Americans said they wouldn't take them anymore.
    Martin Place- iconic and seen in mamy movies like the lady in the red dress from the Matrix
    King's Cross was formerly Queen's Cross in honor of Queen Victoria Jubilee. It changed wirh King Edward the 7th.
    Dedicated to the soldiers in WWII for winning the Battle of El Alamein. The fountain was erected in honor of the soldiers who fought.
    Pott's Pitt- Harry's Pies - traditional Aussie pies.
    Naval base, still active and the pier/wharf was going to go to ruin until a few years ago. They decided to create luxury apartments with a private dock.
    Macquarie brought Australia from a struggling colony to a thriving country. Street named after him.
    St. James Church- oldest church in Sydney
    Largest Catholic Church- St. Mary's Cathedral
    ABC- Australian Broadcast Center
    Ian Thorpe Aquatic Center- opened in 2007 - 8 lines, spa, sauna and the like. Opened to the public.
    Fish Market- 50 tons of fish sold here. Largest fish market in the southern hemisphere.    Read more

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    Takes you out of the Harbor to the Tasman Sea

    Harbor Cruise

    April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    After we got to the hotel and settled in, we got on the hop-on hop off bus and caught the harbor cruise. It was great seeing all of Sydney Harbor.
    ▪︎Russell Crowe bought an apartment in this harbor several years ago for $14.35 million 😮
    ▪︎One of these views is a neighborhood that starts at $100 million for houses.
    ▪︎Also, the Sydney to Hobart sailing race starts in this harbor. It's 600+ nautical miles over some rough seas.    Read more

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    1

    Royal Botanic Gardens

    April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    Many stops today; one of them being to the Royal Botanic Gardens. It was quite impressive to see such gardens in the downtown area. These are some highlights from my walk around the gardens.

  • Stephanie DouglassDream vacationTraveler
    Renovated entryway with 3 stages
    Removable tilesPetals floating are to assist with acoustics since ceiling is a bit too high.Put a tunnel underneath the opera house which is now a bustling restaurant & entertainment

    Sydney Opera House Tour

    April 9, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    Information from the tour. It was really impressive.
    Multi-event center, opera just one
    1st picture: used to have 2 windows. Opened it up for better views
    No columns, all concrete beams have a metal rod in them. Used galvanized steel so not to rust like other buildings
    Flooring can be removed hence the screws
    Concert hall separate wooden facility
    All done by mathematical computation no computers to help construct it. It can be taken apart and put back together just like legos.
    16 years not 6 and 20x as much. Architect wanted one to see the architecture so everything is left exposed.
    Inspired by shells, ships, sails - fusion ancient with the modern
    Each hall is sound proof.
    Petals there are to catch the sound since ceiling is too high and can lose the sound.
    Ceiling is soft white birch, floors and seating are hard timber. Acoustics have been enhanced since.
    Seating material absorbs sound like a person.
    Over a million tiles shipped to construct the "roof". They aren't actually white but cream with a translucent glaze to reflect seashells.    Read more

    Trip end
    April 10, 2023
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