The Story of Down Under

Here we go... the reason we took this trip was because Husband had registered to participate in a trade show in Brisbane, and he was also hired to teach a workshop. So off we went. And, of course, we couldn't just go to the trade show and then leave. We had to expand the trip, because it's AUSTRALIA, and because this summer is our 40th wedding anniversary.

We left on May 4. Flight out was to Los Angeles. We had a 5-hour layover, so we had arranged to meet my cousin and his wife for dinner. They took us to a delicious and wonderful Italian restaurant just down the block from Venice Beach. We had good food, good company, and a gorgeous sunset to enjoy before they dropped us back at the airport for our 15-hour flight to Sydney.

We arrived in Sydney on May 6, May 5 having been lost somewhere between here and there. It was 7:00 AM, too early to check into our hotel, so we left our luggage there and then went out to explore. First is our hotel, then fall colors in Sydney. School girls eating lunch.. so proud to tell me that they are in their last year and will graduate in September. We walked around Darling Harbour area and ate lunch there.

Above: more of Darling Harbour, Maritime Museum which we did not go into, and Hubby entering our restaurant.

After checking in at hotel, we had a shower and a nap and then went out for more exploration of Sydney.

Above includes Chinese Friendship Garden and random city shots. Below, Hyde Park, including War Memorial and a statue of Captain Cook, the leader of the first European group to arrive in what is now New South Wales.

Next stop, Australian Museum where I was especially interested in the Aboriginal Culture exhibit. Good museum! The top floor is a café with a fabulous view of the city.

Above: me with a stuffed koala, and the last of these 4 is a photo of two rolls of Aboriginal art fabric.

This next beautiful building is called the Queen Victoria Building. We did not go inside.

We stopped at this giant bookstore and bought a couple of Australian books for kids. Sydney is a very cosmopolitan city. People there are from all over the world, especially Asia. We heard many different languages and accents. Restaurants reflect a world of yumminess. Our hotel was just outside of Chinatown.

And all of that is just our first couple of days! Lots more to come...