Oosterdam Cruise Vacation 2015

On a cruise with many diverse and exciting sights and experiences, perhaps the most memorable was cruising in the vicinity of White Island which is New Zealand's only active marine volcano. Situated in the Bay of Plenty, east of North Island, its 321m are impressive enough but another 1300m lie below the sea as the structure rises from the seabed. I was so impressed that this series contains more than 50 photographs after editing. 200_2_P1030546

On a cruise with many diverse and exciting sights and experiences, perhaps the most memorable was cruising in the vicinity of White Island which is New Zealand's only active marine volcano. Situated in the Bay of Plenty, east of North Island, its 321m are impressive enough but another 1300m lie below the sea as the structure rises from the seabed. This is one of several shots which shows Volcanic Air Safaris Aérospatiale AS 350 Ecureuil ZK-IAB visiting the crater. I was so impressed that this series contains more than 50 photographs after editing. 200_2_P1030544

The Soul Kitchen is a mobile café in Melbourne seen here outside the Arts Centre. This unusual Volkswagen conversion makes a welcome addition to my 'Happy Campers' album. 200_2_P1040099C

The bunker vessel 'Zemira' at Port of Melbourne. 200_2_P1040172

This rather splendid view of Station Pier, Melbourne shows the contrasting styles of the ferry 'Spirit of Tasmania II' which would sail at 1930 for Devonport and the cruise ship Crystal Serenity which had arrived from Sydney and would overnight before departing for Adelaide as she continued her round the world cruise from and to Miami. I get both amusement and pleasure from the symmetries and intersections created by my travels. I had seen Crystal Serenity earlier in my own vacation in Auckland. We had gone our separate ways with Serenity leaving the New Zealand port three days before Oosterdam and been reunited in Victoria. In this shot, Oosterdam is obscured by the two ships shown. 200_2_P1040170C

Working in tandem with sister vessel 'Spirit of Tasmania I' [qv], the ferry 'Spirit of Tasmania II' sails between Melbourne (here) and Devonport, Tasmania departing usually at 1930. 200_2_P1040169

During my excursion into the city, the cruise ship Crystal Serenity had arrived in Melbourne from Sydney and would overnight before departing for Adelaide as she continued her round the world cruise from and to Miami. I get both amusement and pleasure from the symmetries and intersections created by my travels. I had seen Crystal Serenity earlier in my own vacation in Auckland. We had gone our separate ways with Serenity leaving the New Zealand port three days before Oosterdam and been reunited in Victoria. In this shot, Oosterdam is obscured by the two ships shown. 200_2_P1040166

The bunker vessel 'Zemira' at Port of Melbourne. 200_2_P1040165C

'Family of Man I' (1984) by Cole Sopov, bronze. Arts Centre, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040100

'Family of Man II' (1984) by Cole Sopov, bronze. Arts Centre, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040102

Before the arrival of Crystal Serenity, as depicted earlier in my photostream, I viewed Melbourne's Station Pier across the city from Eureka Tower. Holland America Oosterdam is seen prior to departure for Sydney with the ferry 'Spirit of Tasmania II' which would leave for Devonport at 1930. 200_2_P1040109C

The installation 'No One Man's Land' (2009) by landscape artist David Long is at Eureka Tower Plaza, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040114

The installation 'No One Man's Land' (2009) by landscape artist David Long is at Eureka Tower Plaza, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040110

A charmingly inscribed 'Post Office Receiving Pillar' in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040124

My research into Cooks' Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne has left me a little disappointed. I decided to view only the outside during my visit and I missed, apparently, very little. The building originates in England in 1755 when it was built by the parents of Captain James Cook. It is not established that Cook himself ever lived there and it was moved to Australia in 1933-4. Although it contains representative but very little original furnishing, it has become a major tourist attraction. 200_2_P1040133

'Captain Cook Statue' (1973) by Marc Clark, bronze. Cooks' Cottage, Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040125

'Captain Cook Statue' (1973) by Marc Clark, bronze. Cooks' Cottage, Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne. 200_2_P1040128

My research into Cooks' Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne has left me a little disappointed. I decided to view only the outside during my visit and I missed, apparently, very little. The building originates in England in 1755 when it was built by the parents of Captain James Cook. It is not established that Cook himself ever lived there and it was moved to Australia in 1933-4. Although it contains representative but very little original furnishing, it has become a major tourist attraction. 200_2_P1040136