Life's a Stitch

Eden, Australia is a pretty area with rolling hills and sapphire coloured bays, but was not named for the Biblical garden, but after George Eden, the first earl of Auckland. Outside of Eden we were escorted by dolphins.

We took our only shore excursion of the cruise, as I had wanted an up close and personal experience with the local fauna. People we met on the ship asked us why we wanted to spend money to see kangaroos when all you needed to do was visit a golf course when they are quite common and pesky, similar to the Canada geese and deer of our home courses.

I wanted to see more than roos. My daughter and niece both have had their pictures taken cuddling koalas and for some reason it appealed to me. Turns out that these photos are now outlawed, out of concern for the animal's welfare, in all but two Australian states. I'm OK with that.  So off we went to Potoroo Palace in Marimbula, an animal education sanctuary.

Sure enough there were Kangaroos, very gentle sweet animals when you are hand feeding them and they're not off marauding the golf courses.

And the koalas, still adorable from a couple of feet away.

The rescued three legged spiny echidna was quite entertaining with its wormlike anteater tongue.

There was a good range of birds and animals: potoroos, wallabies, emus, and others we learned about way back when in geography class. It seems like a well run place and was worth the visit. 

Only one more port of call – Sydney, and then it's back to Canada.

 (11-20-17)