Great Barrier Reef

Greetings from Cairns!  It is the capital of North Queensland and believe me there is no red dirt in this part of Australia.  Our flight kept circling the airport for 40 minutes waiting to clearance to land.  Lightning and they don't land planes -- their motto get the people to Cairns safely instead of take chances.

Lee Marvin and Erroll Flynn spent alot of time here big game fishing.  Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe have home here.  The largest share of travelers are from Japan.  It is cheaper to fly in for a couple rounds of golf than golf in Tokyo. 

Some of the older homes were built on stilts before air conditioning.  This was to keep the air moving.  Cairns has a population of 133,000.  The best fish here is the Barramundi (think the spelling is right) but just ask for Barra and they will know what we want.  A  night market opens at 4:00pm  -- that is where Dorothy is now while I am at Karen's favorite place the internet cafe.   Remember the old Woolworth's well there is one here in Cairns. 

This morning we headed off to the wharf and boarded our boat to Green Island which is about a half hour trip from the mainland.  You read about it in National Geographic  but its beauty and blueish green water is nothing like being here.  Some went snorkeling (don't ask I didn't do it) and some went on the glass bottom boat to view the many fishes and coral.  It was magnificent.  Afterwards we waded in the waters and had many photos taken.  They have a hotel, restaurant, swimming pool and many outdoor cafes on the island.   Enjoyed a "cool" one before heading off on our helicopter ride over the reef.  Wow!!!!!!!You can check out our pictures on www.islandphotography .com.au if you are interested.  Great photo. 

The Great Barrier Reef is bigger than Kansas and Italy.  There are 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands.  This is Australia's "Blue Outback". 

We have a free afternoon and evening -- many are shopping, some relaxing and this gal caught up on the washing. 

Tomorrow morning we head out at 8:00 to Kuranda a small village in the rainforest -- you go up on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and return via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which is the longest gondola cablecar).  Many attractions in Kuranda -- the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with their glorious electric blue Ulysses -- Birdworld -- and Karen's favorite (I think she has been on holiday too long) Kaola Gardens with snakes and lizards. 

Air conditioning is not big here especially in some of the sidewalk cafes and shops. 

Well that's it for today Saturday, October 14th (?) 3:06 pm.  

[Mpls Blog Technical Support:  The pictures are not yet available on the website referenced above. ]