We arrived in Cairns under rainy skies, our first full rainy day of the last month. With umbrella in hand, we left the ship and went for a walk. Papa stopped for a haircut along the way, and I continued walking for five miles, along Cairns Esplanade. The waterfront of Cairns is absolutely beautiful, with old growth trees in a long grassy landscaped garden lining the boardwalk. It has wide bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, exercise areas, picnic tables and benches, and a salt-water lagoon. It is lined with restaurants and shops and is the heart of the city. Cairns is home to 170,000 people. It is a major tourist destination in Australia, with access to two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is beautiful, even in the rain!
