Our cabin may have been tiny but the beds were comfortable and the buffet breakfast was passable. There was mass queuing to get off the ship but once out of the terminal building we easily caught a taxi to our Radisson Blu hotel just in time to miss a downpour. At the hotel we initially thought our clothes and luggage stank of cigarette smoke from the ferry. While smoking was banned in cabins and other inside areas of the ship, we could smell smoke everywhere. It now seems not to be our gear causing the smell but someone smoking in this non smoking hotel! When we contacted management about it they at least came to our room and agreed there is a smell of cigarettes smoke, and said they would investigate. The European Choir Games are taking place in Riga and we can hear a choir performing in the park across the road. This is a new hotel with air conditioning but there is a narrow floor to ceiling window that can be opened to let in fresh air, and which also allows us to hear the choir....
Our first stop was at the Hastings Farmers' Market, which is so popular it is held every Sunday - sun, rain or hail. The queues for coffee were too long for us to wait, but we bought two lovely croissants from a French baker's stall. We picked up coffees in town at the cinema cafe. Something we don't see at home is milk being sold in reusable bottles. It is decanted from a bulk container so is labour intensive. We stopped for lunch at Palmerston North. There are several wall murals in the city but none were very good. The art deco style "Ladies Rest" was built in 1937. Inside there are arm chairs in a lounge area, original tiles and some original plumbing. When first built it was just rendered, but the current colours work really well.
On our drive south from Woolgoolga we called into Pet Barn at Coffs Harbour to buy a stronger dog crate for Coco - so far so good. We had booked to stay 2 nights at Jimmy's Beach caravan park but decided to stay 4 nights. This beautiful protected beach is on the north eastern shore of Port Stephens near Hawks Nest. There is a large bush reserve around the park. Last night the dogs barked and I looked out to see a dingo trotting away from their crates. It was sniffing around the backs of caravans where it is darkest. We went swimming today with our friend and the dogs. At this time of year on a week day that section of beach is very quiet. The humans and canines had their exercise so I brought the cats to our friend's house so they could run around - so much for that idea! Our critters can all stay here safely while we go out for dinner this evening.
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