POTD: Australia's Top Pub

"Car stops, man offers
to show us Thursday Island
On his Thursday off."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 30 Thursday Island

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on Thursday Island, in the Torres Strait between the Australian mainland and Papua New Guinea. It's Australia's top pub, that is, its northernmost pub. There's not much else on the island so my guess is that it gets a lot of the island's business.

Ellen and I were hiking up to what's left of the historic, hilltop fort when a man in a car stopped and offered to give us a lift. He worked for the Australian border service and had the day off. So he gave us a panoramic tour of the hilltop, then offered to drive us around the rest of the island. We took him up on his offer and received the best personal tour available.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Beach Camping

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"Safe zone amid waves,
Jellyfish safely kept out.
Lone camper's haven."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 28 Cairns

Another port in Queensland, another (almost) empty beach. Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. There is one lone camper on the beach. Beaches in Queensland are plagued with jellyfish, whose stings are painful. This beach has one safe zone for swimming. Halfway down the beach, you can see the floats for a net used to keep swimmers separated from the jellyfish. In the foreground you can see one lone camper sitting in the sun and enjoying reading a book.

POTD: Marine Stingers

"Empty Queensland beach,
First-aid stations ready for
Jellyfish stings."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 27 Townsville

Another port in Queensland, another empty beach. Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The beach is empty in part because of the presence of jellyfish. Beaches in Australia have first-aid stations with bottles of vinegar to douse yourself with if you happen to fall victim to these beautiful but nasty sea creatures. Oh, also, beware of the crocodiles.

After the jump, a view of Townsville.

POTD: The Heart of the Reef

"Reef's empty allure
spoiled by fear of jellyfish.
Caution in the waves."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 26 Airlie Beach

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia, the self-proclaimed "Heart of the Reef." The "reef" referred to is, of course, the Great Barrier Reef. The beautiful beach is empty, perhaps because swimming is definitely not recommended without a wet suit because of the high risk of jellyfish stings.

POTD: Go Lions

"Brisbane's pride shines bright.
A photo frozen in time:
Lions' hopeful start."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 24 Brisbane

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The "Lions" being cheered for by the skywriting (or "barracked" for, as this is Australia) are the Brisbane Lions of the Australian Football League (AFL). This photo was taken at the beginning of last season in March, 2023. It's old news now, but in September, 2023, the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood Magpies played before a capacity crowd of 100,024 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the AFL's Grand Final. It was a close match won by Collingwood 90-86. Here's hoping that America's Detroit Lions in the National Football League have a happier result in their own NFL Western Conference championship game this Sunday. Go Lions.

POTD: Brisbane Skyline

"Nature and steel meet.
City's heart in river's bend.
Brisbane's beauty shines."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 24 Brisbane

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. That's the big bend of the Brisbane River in the foreground, the Botanic Gardens on the left, and the skyline of Brisbane's city centre in the background. Brisbane is a walkable, beautiful, vibrant city.

POTD: Carpaccio di Polpo

"Manfredi tempts with
Italian dishes sublime.
Next time, translate first."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 22 Newcastle

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at sea aboard the cruise ship Viking Mars, sailing from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. They say you should travel and experience new places, people, and cuisines. That's how Ellen and I ended up in Manfredi's®, a specialty restaurant featuring Italian dishes, with an appetizer of Carpaccio di Polpo in front of Ellen. Who knew it translates to thinly sliced octopus served raw? We didn't. Did she eat it? You'll have to ask her.

POTD: Riding the Wave

"Surfers carve the sea.
Newcastle's big waves dance high.
Kangaroos in flight."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 22 Newcastle

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Surfest in Newcastle "is the largest surfing festival in the southern hemisphere," according to its own marketing material. Our day in Newcastle happily coincided with the 2023 festival.

POTD: Farewell to Sydney

"Sydney fades away,
Beckoning us, "Come again."
Now, new ports await."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 20 Sydney

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken from our cruise ship as we departed Sydney, Australia. You see a lot of ports on a cruise, but our stays were always too short. They say take a cruise to sample what you'll want to come back to explore at more leisure.

After the jump, another view.

POTD: A "Funky High-Energy Area"

"Multicultural
Neighborhood invites delight.
Darlinghurst's essence."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 20 Sydney

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Sydney, Australia. According to Google, "Inner-city Darlinghurst is a funky, high-energy area with cafes, sleek multicultural restaurants and intimate cocktail bars. Oxford Street, a centre of the city’s LGBT scene, has nightclubs that thump with music, plus stylishly restored pubs. Edgy shops on Crown Street sell records, offbeat fashion and vintage apparel. Art galleries, independent theatre companies and live music venues draw a young, chic crowd."

POTD: No Water. No Life.

"Sydney Harbor's plea,
Hydrant's call to save decree,
Water's future, key."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 20 Sydney

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Sydney, Australia. Heed the hydrant: Save water. Save Earth.

POTD: Sydney Harbor Bridge Up Close

"Great harbor's grand link,
Bridge climb etches memories,
Ants commune with heights."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 20 Sydney

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Harbor Bridge is not only a striking landmark visible from all angles of one of the world's great harbors, it also makes for a great climb. This photo shows people (or ants) enjoying a bridge climb.

After the jump, a more distant perspective of the bridge.

POTD: Farewell to Melbourne

"Melbourne left behind.
Waves carry echoes of time.
New beginnings bloom."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken at sea as we sailed away from Melbourne, Australia, in March, 2023. Today, on this last day of 2023, this photo is also called on to say farewell to the year, full of good memories and sad. Here's hoping for a Happy New Year to one and all!

POTD: Tiddly Oggies

"Authentic allure,
Bustling spirit, markets soar,
Queen Vic, evermore."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia. "Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it is a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothing." It was an old, established market when I first visited it in 1974. It's still going strong today.

Oh, I leave it up to you to discover what a Tiddly Oggie is. I'll just say Queen Vic has them for sale.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Merry Christmas

"Modernist design,
Colorful stained glass panes line
Casablanca's shrine."
—h/t ChatGPT

This photo-of-the-day is taken in the Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes in Casablanca, Morocco. It shows one detail of the windows by stained glass artist Gabriel Loire.

May your home be filled with love and laughter, the spirit of giving, and the magic of believing. Merry Christmas!

POTD: Street Art in Melbourne

"Prominent alley,
Melbourne's visual delight,
Jam-packed graffiti."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Hosier Lane in Melbourne, Australia. The laneway is a popular tourist destination because of its city-sponsored, graffiti-covered walls.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Olé, Mate?

"Unbefitting pose
In shadow of sacrifice.
War's memory lost."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, built to honor the sacrifice of men and women of the state of Victoria who served in World War I.

The man and woman in the photo are posing on the ceremonial pedestrian walkway in front of the Shrine. Why they are doing that, what significance it has, even what nationality they represent, are all mysteries to me. But they were photogenic, so I snapped a photo.

POTD: Good Morning, Melbourne

"Cruise trip rearranged,
Melbourne's skyline beckons us,
No complaints, just joy."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken from our ship docked in Melbourne, Australia, my favorite city in the whole wide world. We were on a cruise, so we couldn't spend a few extra days here like we did the last time we were in Australia, but because of a mechanical problem with our ship, our itinerary was changed, giving us an extra night in Melbourne. There were no complaints from me.

POTD: Say Goodbye to New Zealand

"Ship leaves Dunedin,
Tasman Sea's horizon calls,
Rainbow's hopeful arch."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 13 Dunedin

This photo-of-the-day is taken from our ship as we sailed out of the southern New Zealand port of Dunedin, headed for the Tasman Sea and Australia beyond. That lonely lighthouse was our last view of New Zealand. The rainbow ahead of us was a good omen.

POTD: Mural by Street Artist Roa

"Brushed by Belgian hands,
Roa's mural enlivens
Dunedin's artful core."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 13 Dunedin

This photo-of-the-day is from the city centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. It shows a mural painted by Belgian street artist Roa.