Darwin - we have lift off

Amazing how much better I feel after a good night sleep. Apparently it rained quite heavily overnight but I never heard a thing! Locals are still shaking their heads over rain actually happening in The Dry and as it only got to 29 yesterday it has beaten some record of years and years since there has been a July day under 30 degrees. I'm loving it! After a very nice buffet breakfast at 8 I set up off the street to get my bearings and check out some potential eateries. I see that many shops don't open till about 10 and there are quite a few empty shops. Not sure if this is as a result of the GFC or what? The tourist info office is at the end of the mall and I get some good advice re restaurants my kittens may like. Little M is problematic as she can't walk far and certainly can't walk anything pace other than very slow. I check out the RSL and reckon that is going to work out okay for tonight as it is in the same street as our hotel and a pleasant 10 minute walk (read half an hour for Little M). We have a Darwin City Sights tour for the afternoon so I've reminded my herd that our coach is picking us up at 12.15. Thankfully they all are on time and we head off on out AAT Kings coach with the delightful Michael as our driver/guide. Originally from South Africa I am really impressed by his in-depth knowledge of his adopted homeland. In and around the city we see the Chinese temple which was rebuilt after it was totally demolished by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. We drive through the East Point military precinct and Michael points out numerous historical sites. We spent a while at the Aviation Museum which was really interesting and I learnt more about the bombing of Darwin in WW II than any history lessons at school. Just wish I'd had more conversations on the subject with my dad as he served in Darwin during the war. Up in the national park we see lots of RAAF ammunition shelters left over from the war. A stop at the Museum and Art gallery houses a fantastic Cyclone Tracy display. You can go into a small room that is in total darkness where a soundtrack of the noises heard during the cyclone are played. It is really eerie and I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been. Then onto the botanical gardens which are beautifully laid out but not enough time to have a really good wander through. Back into the city to drive past the Convention centre at Stokes Hill and the wharf area. We've seen so much this afternoon and had so much information provided that I feel like I've been on a full day tour rather than a 4 1/2 hour one! It was excellent. Back at the hotel at 5.30 with just enough time for a quick cuppa and then time to head out for dinner. We have a very big day tomorrow with a 6 am start so I've organised box breakfasts for my little herd and I don't think anyone will want a late night tonight.