Sydney!

After a short flight from Adelaide (where we were loudly scolded by the really old German lady next to us for talking during the emergency landing instructions!) we arrived in Sydney... to an overcast and windy 20 degrees! (I know, better than snow, but still a bit chilly... summer is coming a little later than expected here!) We checked into a 6 person hostel room that we are currently sharing with 2 girls from Germany. Yesterday we explored the city at night and got our first views of the amazing Opera House (Madama Butterfly was playing). I have some great pics to post, but this computer is being very testy... this island is friggin backwards! Stay tuned... (Update.. finally found a good computer cafe... images of us at the Opera House are attached, as well as the creepy bat video!)


Today we took the double decker bus around the city and to Bondi Beach. Sydney very much reminds me of Vancouver, and Bondi is like a nicer Wasaga Beach! haha.
We visited the huge Botanical Gardens and were exploring the grounds when we casually looked up to find HUNDREDS of HUGE bats hanging from almost every tree... having a mid-afternoon sleep! It was so bizarre and really creepy... I have a video that I will try to post later. There was a good bit of sun this afternoon, and our pasty white shoulders finally got some sun! We also stopped in at the Rocks Market, which is a gorgeous open air market in the Rocks area of Sydney... the oldest part of the town. I got 2 amazing hand crafted necklaces (one with a tiny opal... Oz's famous stone) and some vintage post cards. Tonight we are off to grab some food and many drinks at Darling Harbour. And maybe take a water taxi around to the Opera House and back.

Tomorrow we have a packed day... we are taking a day trip to the Blue Mountains and then at night we are a going to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (you get harnessed in and then actually climb over the bridge... over the traffic and the water at night!) After that, we are headed to Bondi Beach for the last day in the area, as it is supposed to be sunny and 30! Sweet.

We are having a great time and will keep you posted on our next adventures!


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