Sydney

Well, we made it! After 5 hours to LA; an 8 hour layover; and then a 15 hour flight, we are in Sydney. As evidence thereof, we offer this photo, with Katy in front of the iconic Opera House. See ... we really are here.

Our day was mostly spent trying hard to get acclimated to the time zone change. We arrived at 6 AM and had our bags and were through customs by 6:30 AM. If only Dulles were that efficient! So that put us at the bed and breakfast at 7 AM -- which was, of course, way too early to get into our rooms.

So after dropping our bags at the B&B (which is in "The Rocks" the oldest part of Sydney and within steps of the harbor) we went for a walk into downtown Sydney to see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge (yes, that's how the spell it here) and took a nice long walk in the Royal Botanical Gardens. The trees and birds and flowers etc. are all totally different in Australia. Iris, Fruit Bats, Cockatiels and Parrots ... oh my!

After a pit stop back at the B&B (where our room has a view of the Opera House) we went back out to take a ferry ride in Sydney harbor to the beach town of Manly. Its too cold still to go swimming but we were struck by how much the Australians love the beach -- a bunch of school girls were there sitting around in their school uniforms chatting and a few even went in (and came out shivering). On the way home the sun setting behind the bridge made a beautiful silhouette.

On the whole we walked many miles in an effort to stay awake -- successfully.

Then early to bed ... it was a long day.