Once in a blue moon, when the weather gods are smiling on us, a cruise ship stops at Norfolk! Needless to say, it's a really BIG deal.
The population of Norfolk literally doubled today, so it was all hands on deck. Market stalls were set up, shop keepers opened their stores and lured customers with the promise of "specials" and local singers and dancers adorned their performance gear and entertained passersby in the street. Clean shiny hire cars were lined up at the ready and buses ran non stop taking people between Kingston Pier and town! It was rather like a big street party actually. Our main drag swelled with foot traffic. People wearing identity tags around their neck could be seen everywhere. I was amazed at the varied demographic that hopped off the boat - old and young, frail and able, newly weds, young families and teenagers! It seems anyone and everyone goes cruising these days.
The population of Norfolk literally doubled today, so it was all hands on deck. Market stalls were set up, shop keepers opened their stores and lured customers with the promise of "specials" and local singers and dancers adorned their performance gear and entertained passersby in the street. Clean shiny hire cars were lined up at the ready and buses ran non stop taking people between Kingston Pier and town! It was rather like a big street party actually. Our main drag swelled with foot traffic. People wearing identity tags around their neck could be seen everywhere. I was amazed at the varied demographic that hopped off the boat - old and young, frail and able, newly weds, young families and teenagers! It seems anyone and everyone goes cruising these days.
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| Small boats called 'tenders' ferry the passengers between the cruise ship and Kingston Pier |
Harry and Till got to play their part in making today a success too. Both of them rode on ponies down the main street in the hope of enticing the visiting children to talk their mum's and dad's into paying for them to have a pony ride too. They received quite a lot of attention trotting down the footpath, ending up on the middle of the one and only round-a-about in town with cars driving around them (or I should say, the ONLY round-a-bout on the whole island). And their little stunt worked, as when they returned to the starting point, there was quite a line up of eager kiddies!!
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| You don't usually see this many cars! And the footpath is never this crowded! Norfolk was buzzing today |
With Harry and Till safely perched up on Charm and Fudge, Ben and I got to walk along behind pretending to be tourists! So I took the opportunity to take some photos of the main street, just to give you a feel for what it's like. Ordinarily I'd feel like a bit of a goose wandering around photographing the local businesses!
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| One of our butchers, The Olive Cafe, and the Norfolk Mall (where inside you'll find 'Foodies' - our supermarket) |
I wasn't meaning for the above photo to look like and ad for Campos - but I do have a vested interest there (those who know me well would already know I'm related to Mr Campos himself). Free advertising Will - you owe me now!
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| Uh hum - is that a Campos cup I see? |
2 comments:
ha ha ! How cool is that ! I know a family who "cruises" too and they have been going since the kids were babies, now teenagers... its weird i still assume its an oldie thing ! I only took photos of the Bundeena shops on a Sunday with the other tourists too - i understand what you mean by looking silly on an ordinary day ! p.s Matilda is looking soooo much like you at the moment !
Great pics! It is so nice to see the main street, it really gives you a feel for the place. And is much more tropical looking than I imagined, although I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be tropical... Hopefully we can come visit you someday...xo
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