ON TO CAIRNS

March 29, 2011

Today began with a trip to visit another of the sacred rock formations named Kata Tjuta.  This is a series of 36 various sized well eroded mounds of conglomerate forming a circle.  Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta are not places the Aboriginal tribes lived, but tribes came to these areas for special ceremonies.  We also visited a cultural center and we are amazed at the survival skills the natives developed to survive in this desert climate.  They were hunters and gatherers, moving across the lands, with a unique social structures, designed to avoid inbreeding, while still maintaining rather closed tribes. 

This afternoon, we are flying to Cairns for four days and to meet the rest of our travel group.  Our small group of 14 for the outback has been a delightful and fun group.

Our flight to Cairns was a true delight.  The flight was so empty that the 14 of us could have each had our own row.  But it was a good opportunity for us to chat and talk more with new people. 

Arriving in Cairns was like arriving in southern Florida or Hawaii.  The mostly outdoor airport was open and tropical in feel.  Moving from a dry desert to a tropical coastal area has sure stressed our bodies.  After a quick check-in and opportunity to see our rooms, Andrea led the group on a short walking tour of the immediate area, identifying the Bottle Stop (yeah) and ATM and the myriad of restaurants.

We haven’t yet mentioned the most notable thing about Australia…..the expense!  Everything is so expensive.  Many of our meals are provided on our GCT plan but there are times when we are on our own.  Dinners are regularly $25-29 for not much of anything…a little chicken breast…some pasta…or maybe a small steak.  We have a breakfast buffet with each hotel stay but the menu reports our breakfast as costing as much as $33 in some of the hotels.  Steaks and eggs?  Hardly!  A very traditional English breakfast…eggs, bacon…beans….baked tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms. Today was a pleasant surprise with the addition of pancakes.  We have been drinking local beer and wine as most of the other liquors are heavily taxed.  At the bar in our new hotel…frozen daiquiri…$15.  I don’t think so!