Despite being diverted for an extra stop in Halifax, we arrive in Sydney and the ship is cleared on time.
Our tour isn't until late morning, so we wander the shops on the pier before our tour. Nearly everything is local handcrafts as opposed to the mass produced trinkets from china that one most often finds.
I was here about 7 years ago on the Vision. The 50 foot fiddle hasn't changed much, just faded in color. A local college student is doing a survey of visitors for a class project. I oblige. Reading between the lines I think his intent was to find out if visitors felt the shops were adequately staffed.
The Norwegian Gem arrives late in the morning. I don't know if they are on schedule, but many passengers are trying to find tours as they tell us their tours were cancelled by NCL.
The weather is better than expected, high 60's, sunny, and a light breeze.
Sydney at one time was a large coal mining and steel producing area, having one of the largest steel mills in eastern Canada. Changing technology, and foreign competition basically forced the mills to close.
Our tour guide was excellent, first a worker in the mines then a college professor and now a part time guide. Tourism is a large part of the current economy. For those looking for fall colors, it is about 6 weeks too early.
An interesting tidbit, Sydney Australia streets and street names are exactly the same as here.
Back on the ship, a quick change of clothes and it is time for dinner. We ask our waiter to please help us finish in time to make the 7:15 show. An indirect way of telling her that service has been slow. The third couple doesn't help us much. The woman is driven to talk so much she can't even bother to stop and read the menu or eat. She cuts off her husband everytime he attempts to speak. We have all met them. A person that just has to dominate and take total control of any conversation and make it just her.
Having had enough, the other four of us excuse ourselves so we can go to the show. The waiter did her part.⁷
The production show is, well a production show. We have seen it before but good just the same.
The seas are about 8 feet, enough that they slam against the bow with a muffled bang. Our next port is back to Halifax. Hopefully to dock and stay for the day.
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