February 10, 2026
Who doesn't love a spectacular sunset?!? We were treated to many in this gorgeous retreat. Below is a sampling.
This trip was so meaningful for many of us. Anna, Bosco & I got to celebrate our completion of the PADI Open Water Certification. Jimbo and Ben completed their PADI Advanced Diver certification. However, Basia may have conquered the most impressive goal, a life long fear of submersing her face in the water! At age 70, she became a snorkler under the patient tutialage of our Dive Master Ellie!
Basia detailed the experience on her Blog www.basiak.blog below is her celebration Beer and she doesn't normally drink!
The quaint german village of Hahndorf in the hills outside Adelaide is charming. Back in the 1830's Lutheran families were being pursecuted in Germany, by Catholics, so a wealthy Minister in Australia reached out to them and paid the passage for a family, that had specific trade expertise to move over. He gave them a piece of land to cultivate and after 15 years of service, it was there's to own. Thus the area of Hahndorf and serveral other villages were established.
ADELAIDE the capital of South Australia is known as the " City of Churches " and is a hub for festivals, food and wine, situated between the Gulf of St. Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges . It was founded in 1836 and named for Queen Adelaide. They used excellent city master planning, that still holds today, and makes it so welcoming. The City is completely surrounded by protected park lands and contains four large parks within it's boundaries. The City streets form a perfect grid, running from the mountains to the sea and extend out through the park lands, to allow easy flow inand out of the suburbs.
Today was such a special day, because I got to spend it with a great family I have come to adore! Stacy the ship's spa manager and I became good friends, from our first meeting! We have had so many laughs and long chats over my numerous appointments, I love my spa time! I've been lucky enough to meet her sweet sister Sharon and her boys Dylan and Ryan , when they visited the ship last November and today I got to meet Linley , Sharon's hubby and their Dad, Roland , who is visiting from Mauritius . We got together at their home in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne, for a special feast to celebrate Linley's Birthday and this mini family reunion, since we were in Melbourne.