Australia: Sydney
Ohhh, an update! Fun! I wish I could accurately describe the amount of paradise I am currently experiencing here in Sydney, Australia. And it is the MIDDLE of WINTER! I have enclosed a few pictures for your enjoyment, to see the color, the cleanliness, the attention to detail, the perfection of this beautiful city. I can see why it has been voted the world’s best city 8 years in a row. Europe is beautiful, with its drastic culture changes every few hundred miles or so and intriguing history, BUT it is dark in Europe, it is old, it is rainy, it is cold, and modern conveniences still cease to exist in many places (like 24 hour convenience stores, central heating, free local calls, etc.). Here, in the middle of winter it is sunny, crisp, clean, warm in the days (60s) cool at nights, and I can’t even imagine what summer (my favorite season) would be like. Probably nirvana. Ohhhh I can’t explain it.
So, we got here on Saturday morning, after what I think with my estimations and the crossing the date line and all, was over 30 hours of travelling. Wow. There was great stress involved with catching my flights (all 3 of them) because the very first flight out of Savannah was delayed an hour, causing me to miss flight #2 and thus possibly miss flight #3. Let’s don’t discuss the stress of sitting on an airplane concentrating on helping it fly faster because literally every minute mattered, then when we were 20 minutes from landing the captain announcing the airport needs us to circle for 20 more minutes and when we do finally get the clearance to land spending 10 more minutes sitting still on the runway,,,,,no I don’t want to remember that stress. I made the standby list as the official LAST SEAT on the plane, and 6 hours later made flight #3.
Ahh, and we got here, 6AM on what they told me was a Saturday - completely missed the day Friday altogether, amazing. They lost my luggage, nice since I arrived in winter coming from 100 degree GA wearing sandals and a short skirt. BUT smart traveler Luci had brought one pair of jeans and a light jacket carry-on (and even a pair of socks) so I made it the 2 days without my luggage, wearing socks with sandals like a northerner! (hee hee, no offense to my northern friends, but in the south that idea would never occur to us - it’s too hot!) We had that day to check out the city (where I took some of these lovely photos) and the next day (Sunday) completely free. Yesterday was our first work day and the show was fun. I absolutely missed performing and the Australians were Great! Tonight, if I do the classical solo, I might play a little Waltzing Matilda for them...or the Men at Work song... Anyway, I am loving life and cannot describe the beauty of this place. I hope everyone gets to visit one day!
Love!
Luci
LATE ADDITION: As I read over this update I became aware of a hoarse squawking outside, looked out my window, and found a flock of wild cockatoos perching and flying back and forth from the different rooftops of this hotel. COCKATOOS!! I did one of my first major reports on the cockatoo in 5th grade and here they are WILD! Absolutely beautiful. Did I talk about the nature here? I will have to save that for a later post. Heaven, paradise, bliss, Australia. Wish us luck tonight!
Pics...
The guys and the buildings of downtown: Steve squinty, Scottacious, Straightupdave, Randy the pointy manbuilding
The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Notice the little specks on top of the bridge on the left side. Those are people who paid $160 apiece to mount and climb this tall structure. I was reserved to do it today, but couldn’t get myself moving this morning and missed my chance. Ahh! Maybe next time ‘cause I’ll surely be back...
Find the Cockatoo
See the pretty buildings against the backdrop of blue infinity
Our hotel, me in my plane clothes I wore for at least three days.
A view of the pier where our hotel is located (it was just to the right of the battleship)
So, we got here on Saturday morning, after what I think with my estimations and the crossing the date line and all, was over 30 hours of travelling. Wow. There was great stress involved with catching my flights (all 3 of them) because the very first flight out of Savannah was delayed an hour, causing me to miss flight #2 and thus possibly miss flight #3. Let’s don’t discuss the stress of sitting on an airplane concentrating on helping it fly faster because literally every minute mattered, then when we were 20 minutes from landing the captain announcing the airport needs us to circle for 20 more minutes and when we do finally get the clearance to land spending 10 more minutes sitting still on the runway,,,,,no I don’t want to remember that stress. I made the standby list as the official LAST SEAT on the plane, and 6 hours later made flight #3.
Ahh, and we got here, 6AM on what they told me was a Saturday - completely missed the day Friday altogether, amazing. They lost my luggage, nice since I arrived in winter coming from 100 degree GA wearing sandals and a short skirt. BUT smart traveler Luci had brought one pair of jeans and a light jacket carry-on (and even a pair of socks) so I made it the 2 days without my luggage, wearing socks with sandals like a northerner! (hee hee, no offense to my northern friends, but in the south that idea would never occur to us - it’s too hot!) We had that day to check out the city (where I took some of these lovely photos) and the next day (Sunday) completely free. Yesterday was our first work day and the show was fun. I absolutely missed performing and the Australians were Great! Tonight, if I do the classical solo, I might play a little Waltzing Matilda for them...or the Men at Work song... Anyway, I am loving life and cannot describe the beauty of this place. I hope everyone gets to visit one day!
Love!
Luci
LATE ADDITION: As I read over this update I became aware of a hoarse squawking outside, looked out my window, and found a flock of wild cockatoos perching and flying back and forth from the different rooftops of this hotel. COCKATOOS!! I did one of my first major reports on the cockatoo in 5th grade and here they are WILD! Absolutely beautiful. Did I talk about the nature here? I will have to save that for a later post. Heaven, paradise, bliss, Australia. Wish us luck tonight!
Pics...
The guys and the buildings of downtown: Steve squinty, Scottacious, Straightupdave, Randy the pointy manbuilding
The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Notice the little specks on top of the bridge on the left side. Those are people who paid $160 apiece to mount and climb this tall structure. I was reserved to do it today, but couldn’t get myself moving this morning and missed my chance. Ahh! Maybe next time ‘cause I’ll surely be back...
Find the Cockatoo
See the pretty buildings against the backdrop of blue infinity
Our hotel, me in my plane clothes I wore for at least three days.
A view of the pier where our hotel is located (it was just to the right of the battleship)
posted at
4:00 AM
