I mustache you a question....

Did we have a good time or what???? The weekend after we got home from Australia, had a weekend crop.  A great time was had with some fun women.  Becky brought mustaches for our group of 8 on Saturday night. Nothing like a little mustache humor to get your second wind going to crop until the wee hours of the morning.

Home home again

As we start the long journey home, I am filled with such gratefullness. I am thankful for the friends and family for their love and support, converters, advice, airport shuttle, and answers to all our questions and planning. I am thankful for Caleb for keeping the home fires burning and for Chris for the memorable Opera House show.

But I am especially grateful for Paul for all of his planning and for always wanting to go on this trip.  It's been talked about jokingly for 25 years and I am glad we have done it.  Yesterday, on Sept 11th, he arranged for us to renew our wedding vows with Fr Neville at St Patrick's Church in Sydney. It has been my joy to spend the last 25 years with him and I look forward to every day ahead with him.

One last pic

Last pic of the opera house while we were on the bridge.   Such a good view just had to share it.

Anyone for a walk?

While at the bridge we walked across and back, great views and lots of traffic,  The bridge has rail lines, 8 lanes for cars and a walking lane.  Got one more pic of the opera house as well.

Up close and personal

We took the tour of the Harbour Bridge pylon today.  There's a museum inside the pylon and an observation deck on top.  After a bunch of steps we reached the top and the views are amazing.

Happy birthday Mum in Aussie

I found the sweetest birthday card for you, Mom. But I found out that mail from the Outback takes three weeks to get to the states, they only have a truck twice a week and no direct flight to the US. And now from Sydney, it would be late. So I will deliver in person. Love you, my mum and best friend. Happy birthday to the mom of the luckiest daughter in the world.

Under the bridge

We can't seem to take enough pics of the bridge,  this one is even more stunning with the foreground subject.   Paul

King and I

Chris bought us tickets to the King and I performance at the opera house.  What a wonderful show and a wonderful son.

Opera anyone?

We had our Opera House tour and lunch at the cafe, watch out for the pigeons, they are out to scavenge every scrap.  The opera house is so striking inside and out. Lots of steps.

Buses, buses everywhere

Took the free bus this morning to the Opera House, George St is the main drag and all the bus lines converge there.   At times it's buses as far as you can see left and right.

Anniversary dinner

After a long day we were headed to a pizza place by Darling Harbor, but it was closed.   Across the harbor was a Hard Rock Cafe.   After we walked in Paul realized we ate at the Hard Rock on our honeymoon in Chicago, what a coincidence.

On the way to Manly

Took the ferry to Manly beach, got our feet wet and went for a long walk in the surf.  A little cold, but as Chris says,  YOLO(you only live once). Got a great view of the harbor as well.

The Bridge

It's even more impressive up close.  If you look close near the flags at the top you can see some of the bridge climbers. 

Opera anyone?

It's even more beautiful up close.

Bondi

Went to Bondi beach as well but wouldn't you know it, Hugh Jackman wasn't there. 

Sydney Harbor

We made it to the big city and got the grand tour.   Here's the bridge and opera house from the botanical gardens.

How cool

What better way to be greeted in your hotel room than with a personal message on the tv.  Almost as good as a driver at the airport with your name on a sign.

N2

On our way back to hotel found the coolest gelato bar ever. They make each batch in front of you with liquid nitrogen in a mixer while dressed in lab coats and goggles. We had red velvet cheesecake and salted caramel chocolate.  Yummy.

Meat pies

Took a walk to Harry's Cafe de Wheels through China Town to get meat pies, but we left off the mushy peas.   Tasty beef pies and pasties((past-ease) vegetable pies). They also have chili dogs, have to try those too.

Whew...we made it

First unfriendly and scary airport shuttle driver since we got to Australia,  but we made it to Sydney hotel. Here is lovely husband trying to get our bearings. It is nothing like the other cities we have been to, a bit more "full on" as the hotel clerk described it. A lot like New York I say, but his description is spot on so far. Did get glimpse of bridge, can't wait for tomorrow and our city tour in the daylight. Off to find dinner and see what we can see.

Sydney Fog

Haven't left Cairns yet but Sydney fog made the news, so bad it shut down the ferries.   Our flight should be unaffected though.

Breakfast of champions

Today we are leaving sunny Cairns for foggy Sydney. Apparently the ferries have been stopped right now, but the flights so far are good. We have eaten more fish and chips than normal,  but we like that. Chips which are French fries are really tasty here. We have had a few Aussie breakfasts, but we aren't fans of the bacon. So this picture is our normal breakfast. We did get muffins one night from Woolworths for the next morning.

In Cairns we had great italian pasta one night. We actually ordered Dominos last night as we were tired. It was smaller and had less tomato sauce, but super fast delivery. The pizza was about 12 inches and cost about twenty dollars.

The food costs are more expensive than at home. We found an Irish pub with dinner and a drink for $14, which is pretty cheap. Lots of younger kids around there as drinking age is 18. Most entrees are between 19-25 dollars.

Because someone had told me about the expense of eating out, we packed the granola and crackers.

They do like the gelato over here....and we have tried two: Devine Gelato and Gellochios.  Both very tasty....not Ted Drewes but light and smooth. 

Snakes!

Also saw the snake show, here is the Inland Taipan, one of the world's most venomous snakes, a drop of venom can kill 50 people.

Koala kuddle

We went to the Cairns wildlife zoo and each got to hold a koala, very cool.   They have very soft fur like wool. Souvenir photos as well.

Dinner Time

Walked in at dinner time for the kangaroos, wallabys, and padamellons. Just awesome.

Mama and baby

Can you see the baby? Got to pet one today at Hartley's Crocodile Farm.

Barron Falls

Another view from a train stop.

View from the Kurunda Train

Lovely train ride into the rain forest.

Hotel view

View from the balcony of the harbor.

We did it!

We don't have photos as they are all on the camera, but we took this after we got back to our room....on the 11th floor with a balcony.

We both went snorkelling at The Great Barrier Reef today and Paul did a helment dive too. We saw beautiful fish with such bright colors. Truly an amazing place.

Had dinner at an Irish pub and watched some ballroom dancing going on in the park across the street. Have an early morning tomorrow for the Kurunda Rail train and sky rail and the crocodile farm. Hope they are hungry.

Welcome to Cairns

Arrived in Cairns on best flight ever!  Exit row and only half full. Much greener here on the coast than the outback. On our way to the reef tomorrow.

Goodbye Uluru

One last pic from the plane as we head to Cairns.

Just like the postcards

Here is the happy couple at the iconic photo opportunity spot.   It's gorgeous from every angle.

Bacon?

Here is the Aussie version of crisp bacon, more like ham to me.  This was a special order to get it crisp, normally it's not that brown.  My father would not approve.

Sunset on Uluru

Another gorgeous sunset , kata-tjuta in the distance Uluru up close.

Uluru tour

Got up close and personal with the Rock.   So many gorges and crevices when you get up close, it's so different than the post card view.

Kata-tjuta

Once the light hits the rocks they pop with color.  

The happy couple in the windy gorge

After a1.3 km hike we got to the end of the gorge.  Fantastic views.

Kata-tjuta

Sun just brightening up on the kata-tjuta rocks.

Sunrise

We got up at 5am to head out for sunrise tour of kata-tjuta and Uluru. What an awesome experience.  It was quite chilly but worth it.

Uluru

Had dinner at sunset and under the stars near uluru, what a cool way to experience the Rock.

Kata-Tjuta

At Yulara resort near Uluru

Ghan train ride

Got on The Ghan train on Sunday to Alice Springs. The ride and views were spectacular.  Food was excellent...Paul had kangaroo and I had barramundi.  His kangaroo actually tasted like beef, not chicken.  Not Lazy P Ranch Angus beef though.

The twin bunk beds were not the greatest of mattresses....awoke at 4:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep, so saw incredible sunrise. Paul woke up just in time. Did see a kangaroo today, but nothing else except the very friendly natives. We were the only Americans in our carriage and many people stopped to talk to us.

In Alice Springs enjoying some free WiFi with an early morning bus to Uluru.