Cairns

Last night we checked out the Cairns night market - nothing of any great interest, but it was a lively downtown, with lots of people out strolling, shopping and eating.

We spent the day in the city.  Cairns seems to be a really laid back place.  Its central business district runs along the water, with an esplanade at water's edge.  Right in the middle of the esplanade, right next to the sea where you can't swim (because of the stingers) is the Lagoon, a huge saltwater swimming pool, with a sand "beach," decks, and shade structures around it, so it's not unusual to see people walking in the center of town, dressed for swimming.  There's lots of public art along the esplanade, too.

Walking near the city library, we heard lots of screechy bird-like sounds in the trees.  Looking up to see what the birds were, we saw that they were hundreds of big bats.  I  asked a man passing by if they were flying foxes.  He confirmed that they were and we chatted awhile.  He told us there's lots of controversy in town about them.  Some people want to get rid of them and some want them to stay. (He offered his opinion, "Myself, I'd like to dynamite them.  They carry a disease like rabies.  Just last week a boy died from being scratched.")

We walked around downtown, took a swim and relaxed at the Lagoon, and then had lunch at a waterside cafe.  Watched clouds and rain move around over the water and the mountains.  We've only had rain during the day twice during the month we've been here.  Yesterday and today there were incredible downpours off and on for a couple of hours in the late afternoon.  (It is the wet season in the "wet tropics" after all.)

Then went to the botanical garden, which was very different from the other cities' gardens.  Tropical and gorgeous.  Great to be there in a downpour.  It was extra lovely after the rain, with everything glistening in the sun.

Off to New Zealand tomorrow.  It's been a great month here!