(Australia) We’re here!

Friday, March 19^th

 I can’t believe we’re still awake.  It’s going to take us a couple of days to stop saying “it’s ____ o’clock at home.”  Oh well, one more time – it’s 7:15 pm here on Friday and 3:15 am on Friday Baton Rouge time. 

 

We left LA at midnight Thursday night.  We were exhausted and each took a Lunesta as soon as we got on the plane.  As soon as they said we could lay our seats back, we did.  We sure enjoyed our little cocoons.  They handed out “Qanta’s pajamas” when we first got on the plane and it was amazing how many people got up and changed into them.  They were made of grey t-shirt type fabric with a kangaroo on the front of the shirt.  I’ll have to get Mark to model them one day and take a picture of him to post.  I’m just glad I wore comfortable clothes for the flight!  I slept about 6 hours, then “accidently” woke up Mark.   The next 8 hours we watched movies and read.  It really wasn’t bad as we expected, but we sure were glad when we landed. 

 

I about kissed the guy (and told him so) behind the desk at the hotel when he said we could check into our room at 10:00 am.  He did tell me he doesn’t get that response too often, but then again you know how us Southern girls are.  I’ve had a terrible allergy all day – it started on the plane – and I couldn’t wait to get to the room and shower and change clothes.  I don’t want to bore everyone with details and minutia, but other than taking a tour of the Sydney Opera House, we mainly spent the day walking around and getting our bearings in the city.  The Opera House is amazing.  It’s design and construction were supposed to take 3 years when started in 1959 and the projected cost was 7 million dollars.  When it opened in 1973, it had cost over $102 million.  Kind of sounds like the Superdome! 

 

It is absolutely beautiful weather here – about 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  We can see the  Sydney Opera House are out the window of our hotel room.  What a view! 

Just looked over and Mark is asleep – oh well, what’s new?  I’m trying to stay awake until the sun goes down, but don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.  I’m trying to type this and watch the news.  Haven’t found Fox yet, but will keep looking.

 

I’m sick of reading and hearing that “Obama has postponed his trip to Australia as he battles to win the fight over his health care proposal.”   I can’t believe they care down here!  I thought we might not have to hear about him everyday.  I’m just hoping that some miracle will occur and the “Obama Care” bill fails while we’re gone. 

 I promise I won’t keep saying this, but I sure hope we don’t come across as narcissistic.  I used to thing people that blogged were so self absorbed that others might care what they were doing, so I’m going to consider this a travel journal that we’re sharing with you all.  Last summer when Jennifer went to Europe I encouraged her to keep a journal of her trip.  When Mark and I got married and went to Europe we kept a diary of our trip and even now it brings back great memories whenever we read it.  Looking back on it now, it was pretty boring…..  “We did _____.  We saw ______.”  Jennifer’s journal took a different form – napkins, leaves, etc. and was pretty interesting.  We can’t include leaves and definitely don’t have the same funny perspective about things as Jennifer does, but hopefully we won’t bore everyone. 

 

Enough rambling…….              

 

S          Our room faces east so Sunshine poured in our room today.

Y         Yesterday seems like a year ago!

D         Sydney Opera House against the harbor is very Dramatic.

N         Need to remember to look right not left when crossing the streets. 

E          Exchange rate is not great, but that won’t stop us.  

Y         Years of planning and waiting are worth it!