July 28, 2025

JUNEAU, ALASKA, USA

This was sadly my last Port with the Miller's !! We had their rental car today so we were able to cover a lot of the area. Our taxi driver out to rental car agency at the Airport suggested a whole itinerary! It was great to have the opinion of a native who so loves his home! First destination, the Shrine of Saint Therese, the patron saint of Alaska.

This was a full circle moment for me! When I was a kid I had an aunt who had been a former nun and she taught me the prayer, Little Flower, in this hour, show me your power.  I use it all the time, but never really questioned / knew its roots, till today. St. Therese was young girl in Lisieux, France who died at 24 from tuberculosis. In 1888, at the age of 15, she became a Carmelite nun ( I believe my Aunt Mary was a former Carmelite nun) and Saint Therese was known as "the Little Flower"  and is one of the most venerated saints we have, due to her simplicity and practicality of her approach to spiritual life. It turns out that Alaska's first Bishop, Joseph Raphael John Crimont, held a deep personal devotion to St. Therese even before she was canonized. He reportedly knew members of her family in France. He is even buried in her shrine's crypt. It is a stunningly place I will always remember!

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Merciful Love Labyrinth at entry to shrine island.

Next we went to the Brotherhood Bridge another spot known for bear sighting but alas just another lovely view.

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.