(Australia) Monday, March 22

Monday, March 22^nd

I finally had to admit defeat this afternoon.  My feet are killing me.  We have thoroughly walked this city.  I don’t know if there is an area we haven’t seen at least once!  We came back to the hotel and are in the executive lounge – me having a diet coke, and Mark waiting for 5:30 – when they start serving wine! 

This was another great day.  We woke up to pretty cloudy morning, but it also was cooler so we couldn’t complain.  Everyone keeps telling us they are having a “hot spell.”  The average high temperature for this time of year is 72 ° (and that is what I packed for!), but yesterday it was over 90.  If it doesn’t cool down some, every picture you all see of me for the next two weeks will be in a black t-shirt! 

This morning we met an Australian couple a little younger than ourselves who are in the last week of a year long biking trip around Australia.  They left their home in Canberra 51 weeks ago and just got to Sydney.  They were taking a picture of their bikes, so Mark asked them if they’d like him to take a picture of the two of them in front of their bikes.  While he did so, we took one with our camera also.  We talked to them for a little while and they told us their story:  They decided to do the trip and sold their business.  When they told the wife’s parents what they were going to do, her father thought they were crazy – he said they weren’t spring chickens any more.  So they decided they were “sprung chickens” and called their adventure “Sprung Chicken Ride 2009.”  I could tell Mark was getting ideas, so as soon as we walked away, I just looked at him and said “NO!”  I think he got the message loud and clear.  Their website is www.sprungchickenride.com. 

Our last “walk” this afternoon was over the harbor bridge.  We decided not to do the official Sydney Harbor Bridge Walk for a couple of reasons: It’s a several hour expedition and about $350 a person.  You have to wear a special “bridge climbing suit” and are attached to a static line on the bridge for safety reasons.  Regardless of the thrill and sense of achievement you’re suppose to feel, I’d rather put my money into new shoes!  We also went up to the top of the Sydney Tower this morning for a 360° panoramic view of the city at about 800 feet high. 

This is a very busy city.  We’re staying downtown near the harbor and it seems like there is activity at all times of the day.  It’s very cosmopolitan and international and has been fun people watching when we are “having a coffee.”

We leave Sydney in the morning and fly to Melbourne where we pick up a car and drive up to Yarra Valley – a wine area north east of the city.  Since it is early fall here, it’ll be interesting to see the vineyards and wineries. 

We’ve said numerous times that we can’t imagine trying to come to and travel around Australia and New Zealand in 2 weeks time.  As it is we are only covering a very small part of the country.  I know Mark would much rather have not hurt his shoulder last year, but the postponement of the trip allowed us to fine tune our itinerary and realize we could only cover one country this time. 

Today is it Sunday at home and the news keeps talking about today being the day that Congress is to vote on Obama Care.  Still hoping it fails.  Someone let us know.  We can find International CNN on TV, but no International Herald Tribune or USA Today. 

Enough rambing.  We’re getting ready to go to dinner at a restaurant that specializes in Mod Oz cuisine.  Never heard of it before, but it’s evidently the new, hot Australian cuisine.  Hopefully that doesn’t mean raw and non-recognizable.  Will let you know about it tomorrow.

PS – Love the news from home.  Carol – am excited about Katie and Keith being in NO!