June 7, 2024
Exploring Las Palmas

Took the public bus about 45 minutes to the north part of the island to explore capital area Las Palmas. Went with 4 others from group and we split once in town, with Mark & Darlene doing hop on off bus and Peter Cris and I walking the town center. World Of Music And Dance sign for big festival put together by Peter Gabriel every November in Gran Canary.
After a leisurely lunch sitting seaside, we went to the Castillo de la Luz a former fort, up at the Port, that now has the ruins of the Fort combined with a modern art gallery, , for the sculptural metal workings of Martin Chirino. Provides an interesting viewing space for both.
Then back on the bus to hotel, a quick shower and dinner. After dinner Delia & Peter and I took a stroll down to beach area and walked around the plaza people watching and strolled along the beach path thru many restaurants, bars and shops and ended at dunes section - sands blown in from Sahara, along southern island coastline.

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.

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.

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.














