Holidays!!!

Last week was finally time for our holidays. Caroline flew to Gatwick on the Friday and we stayed in a hotel near the airport (where I got free parking for the week). We flew out super early on the Saturday morning, but it meant we got to our apartment by midday. We had a 2 bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor, about a 3 minute walk from the beach, and with a balcony overlooking the pool. 

It was the end of the season so it was really quiet. The pool bar closed the first day we got there but there were bars just outside and the wine is so cheap, so we didn't mind. Plus it meant it was quiet on a night.

The first few days were a bit overcast but that didn't stop me enjoying the balcony in a morning. And anytime I could really.

But the sun did come out! Caroline tended to sleep in later than me so I had breakfast and usually a trip to the pool or beach before she got up.

Sunny!

We were only over the road from the beach. It is probably not fun in the height of the summer (apparently you can barely move) but for use is was practically empty all the time. We had no problems getting sunbeams whiner and wherever we wanted. 

I also had some fun playing with my new underwater camera. Unfortunately there weren't any fish to chase.

The only downside of where we were staying is we were technically between Salou and Cambrils and there weren't many restaurants. The ones there were very English. :( But you could get the bus into Cambrils for a nice place. 

We spent the first few days just chilling, swimming and sleeping. Tuesday was Caroline's birthday so we went for some cocktails before dinner, including a giant Margarita.

Centre Parcs - last day

We had to get out early (well 10am) on the last day and decided to walk the cases down to the car instead of trying to get the car up to the cabin (you can't drive around Centre Parcs, only to drop off and pack up but everyone checks out at the same time. Chaos.) 

We were thinking about playing badminton but my knee was not happy so went bowling instead. I even won a game! I lost the other 2 but I still won one!

Clare and Matt

Pulling faces.

:)

We played for 2 hours, which we didn't expect and just finished the last game before the computer kicked us off. Then we moved to pool. I was on the winning side 2 out of 3 times. Though that was because the other team managed to pot the black ball. I'm still counting it! :) 

Clare breaking.

Such aim.

Such concentration.

While Matt and El went to the pool one last time, Clare and I sat and had a coffee and a chat which was lovely. We had a late lunch before heading home after dropping Clare at the train station. It was very sad. I really love spending time with these guys and we don't do it often enough. Hopefully my new job-to-be will be better and we can do this more often. :) 

Out and about in Cairns

Saturday I took day to chill out and didn't book anything. I was intending on sitting my the pool in the sun but the weather was cloudy and cool. Not sunbathing weather. So I went into town for the day. I took Saturday off because I wanted to go to Cairns markets where all of the goods are locally produced. Unfortunately this week is Iron Man in Cairns so there was a fitness and lifestyle expo on instead. :-( But there were lots of very fit guys walking around so at least the view was good.

The Esplanade

The Esplanade runs the length of Cairns along the sea front and very pretty (though there isn't much sea there). There are also lots of free exercise stations (they are super fit here), BBQ areas, and play grounds along it. Because the beaches are pretty rubbish in Cairns, they built the Lagoon on the sea front for swimming.

Lagoon

Because of the weather I decided against going swimming and went to the Cairns Wildlife Dome which is above the Casino. If you have nothing to do and have small kids, it's fine but there really isn't a lot there. There is a rope bridge course but it's pretty expensive and small. But for little kids there are lots of birds flying around and they have regular tours and shows.

Red-tailed black cockatoo

Rat kangaroo

Goliath, a 4m salty

The small bird enclosure was fun

Blue tongued lizard, refusing to show his tongue!

I did however get my photo taken with a koala.

Cuddling a koala

His name was Micro, and he was so soft, cuddly and smells of eucalyptus. But his claws were huge - I wouldn't want to annoy him.

After the dome I went shopping for gifts (I found myself a great necklace and some presents for home) and another bottle of wine (a nice reserve chardonnay) as I am nearly through my semillion. I stopped a sushi place for lunch I had read some great views about, and had a large lunch (I made a mess of the first flying fish roe sushi before I took the photo, as you can see.)

Sushi lunch

I am going to spend the rest of the doing laundry (not very exciting but needs to be done), skyping home, working, and relaxing as I have to be up super early tomorrow morning, though it won't be by the pool.

:-(

Memorial Day weekend

Most of the weekend was spent chilling out and sorting things ready for the start of traveling next week. I did manage to get to the pool and sit in the sun for a while on Saturday. The apartment complex has a nice little pool on site and on Saturday morning I had it all to myself. :-)

My apartment pool

On Sunday I went for a picnic organized by someone in the department. It was nice and the food was good, though I forgot to take any photos. It was fun watching people on the tightrope someone had set up. I decided not to have a go. Firstly because my legs are broken after my workout on Friday, and secondly, I didn't want to break anything! It did not look easy.

Yesterday was Memorial day here so I finally got a day off. So I tagged along with my friend Steve and his daughter to the zoo at the Natural Bridge. We had a great time and the weather was beautiful.

White Bengal tiger

Goats.

Kids!

We also brought a bag of feed and fed any animal we could find!

Feeding the goats ...

... And the Donkey ...

... And the camels

But my favorite was the giraffe! He/she was so sweet and gentle.

So sweet

Feeding the giraffe

After lunch in Lynchburg and an ice-cream (as we accidentally found a cafe next to an ice-cream shop!), and a bit of a detour (the map was rubbish), we ended up at Boxwood nature reserve which was a great kids section (and made me wish I was 5 again!).

Tree house.

Making mud pies.

Radnom skull

Queen of the castle

The only slightly odd thing was there were lots of bones and skulls lying around, which was a little sinister. But made for some good photos.

It was a lovely day and we stopped at a country food store on the war back, where, if I was around for a while, I would have spend so much money!

On the evening I chilled out with a glass of wine, Skyped friends, and wrote a list of things to pack. :-)