Friday December 24 Christmas Eve Tour of the Blue Mountains Oh must we? Yes, apparently we must We loaded up into a mini-van of sorts, me clutching a latte just in case the breakfast part of the trip was a long time coming. Michael commented that the last time we were on such a bus it was to tour Monte Verde – Green Mountain, and now we’re back and going to the BLUE mountains. He just wanted to point that out. We were joined by just another couple, from Huntington Beach. Her name was Ronnie and she was planning to walk the bridge, something we passed on. And they were traveling to Cairns on Boxing Day just like us. I thought I may see them, but we didn’t. They were nice and didn’t hold up the tour – always my fear, but on these smaller tours, which is all we took, we represent the critical mass at five people. Drove and drove up to the Blue Mountains. Our first stop was to have breakfast with the kangaroos. Now we know the family reputation when it comes to viewing “guaranteed wildlife” No moose in Denali No quetzal in Costa Rica No whales on the bay No buffalo at Custer So when we were driven into this little park to “see the kangaroos” well, sure we are. But because this tour left so early (on purpose, to beat the other tour busses) we actually alighted the bus and here was a gang (they call family groups of Kangaroos gangs) just hanging out on the lawn. We were able to walk right up close to the kangaroos and say hello. I am so thrilled. Breakfast with the flies, horrible, but also with the roos and the cockatoos. Our breakfast consisted of wonderful fresh bread covered with Nutella, plus fresh mango and other fruits, but I ate mostly the Nutella and the mango. Also drank tea, thank goodness for the pre-emptive coffee. The boys and mom tried the vegemite, wonderful expressions of distaste and disgust; almost as colorful as the time Thomas accidentally drank coffee! Andrew and Thomas then fed the bold sulfur crested cockatoos. The birds ate out of their hands. So it really was a wildlife experience out in the “wild” of a national park. We drove then through little towns up to the ridges of the Blue Mountains. The famous Three Sisters are easily viewed off a large overlook, with a gift store etc. I loved the overlook and imagining the early settlers looking out at this endless rough terrain. We did see the blue mist, from the eucalyptus oil over the trees.