June 20, 2024

Euro 2024 - UEFA European Football Championship

When in Germany, one has to join in all the excitement surrounding Euro 2024! This year Germany is hosting the European Nations at 10 different cities throughout Germany. Germany's game #1 against Scotland we watched on TV - they won 5 to 1. Germany's Game #2, versus Hungary, we went down into the heart of town and watched at a sports bar / restaurant with tons of fans. Germany has lots of giant public viewing areas to watch all the games, setup throughout the cities. Fans are decked out in all their gear to support their teams; you see tons of flags, wigs, jerseys. face paint, leas and many cars driving around with flags flying and horns honking. They celebrate every win or even tie! Above are some of the key team members on Germany's squad and the one who made goals in the games thus far. Germany won 2-0 over Hungary. This is first time since 2012, that Germany has won its first two games in the championship. All are excitedly awaiting Game #3, Sunday against Switzerland.

MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

By Patricia Patrick • February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.