Cairns

Well we made it to Cairns - the first stop on our Summer holiday. It's a tropical rainforest paradise that has huge bats, crocodiles on the beach, 90% humidity and is the perfect jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef.

Our first stop was for food. Surprise surprise. The first place we saw turned out to be a winner. The Flying Monkey is a cafe and art gallery and is just lovely.

Beautiful smelling lilies adorned all the full tables whilst couples and families enjoyed a relaxed brunch.



Cat stole the last apricot danish which she wolfed down with an iced chocolate.

But I soon forgave her after a bite of my slice of fruit cake and a slurp of an iced caramel.

After refuelling, we strolled into town along the esplanade in fairly heavy but beautifully warm tropical rain.

Cairns is infamous for salt water crocodiles which crawl out of the sea to eat unsuspecting passersby.

So the salt water lagoon, right on the water's edge, is the place for a dip

It even has its own little beach

I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing christmas trees between palm trees though!