Day 10 Sydney!

 

First thing on my first day in Sydney, I went shopping.  I am not a big fan of shopping but I seriously needed some different clothes.  I found 5 shirts at the Westfield Center.  I think you could find anything from bargain brands to Dior, Calvin Klein etc.  Besides the shirts I bought two new charms for my pandora bracelet!  The Flag of Australia and a world globe.  I bit my lip and didn't buy the koala bear or kangaroo  charms. These are only available in Australia.

After finding some food I went back to my room on the 13th floor of the Marriot and took a nap!  Two hours latter I decided to walk down to the Quay (Key) Just to have a look around.

I came around a corner and there it was the Sydney Opera house! 

one of the most iconic architectural designs in the world!  I have many, many photos of the Opera house!

Just to prove I am actually there:

Then I wandered about all the shops around the Quay where I found the t-shirt I need for Scrub Stitching, some patches, and a coffee mug!

From my window Looking out on the buildings-the skyscrapers reminded me of the wood blocks my boys had.  Especially the one on the far left which looked like squares and triangles had just been added willy-nilly.  Right in the middle the while building is the Marriot where I stayed.  It's triangular which makes finding you room interesting!

Day 9--24 March 2023 A Very Long Train Ride

There are not photos for this day! Checked out of the hotel quite early and toted my luggage up the one block to the train station.  Found coffee (after days and days of trying different coffee's I discovered that ordering a flat white and then adding sugar got me almost the same as I have at home)  and a blueberry muffin for breakfast.  I had to find where to show my ticket.  The website site said to print it out but I didn't have any way to do so.  It turned out okay as they barely glanced at my phone.  I had an assigned seat in the last coach and no neighbor for most of the way.  

While I did look out the window quite a lot--I also read some, and napped some.

11 and a half hours after our 8:30am departure we arrived in Sydney Central where I found a taxi to take me to the Merriott.

Tired, and out of short sleeved clothes.  Seriously, I took the wrong clothes! It's still summer and humid!

  

Day 8--23 March 2023 Last day in Melbourne. . .this time

 

The view from my new hotel balcony.  I can't decide if the tall building in the center looks more like a spoon or a crewel needle.

I spent the day moving closer to the Melbourne Southern Cross Train Station.

I stayed at the Grand Hotel Melbourne.  A very old (1890) hotel but very lovely.  They took my luggage and kept it for me until check-in time while I went walk-about.  I wanted to check out the train station for the next morning.  It's HUGE!  When I came back I rested a bit and then had Indian food-so yummy.

Day 7 Decisions, decisions, decisions

With the fact that a rental car wasn't available at the airport I spent the day on the computer trying to figure out what my next step will be.  I'm sure I could get a rental SOMEWHERE in Melbourne but truthfully I was tired of driving mile after mile so I looked for alternatives.  First I thought to take a ferry to Sydney but I couldn't find one!  After looking at the atlas I realized that the road I thought went by the ocean it actually did not and while not far away I would have to take a secondary road down to whatever I thought I wanted to see and return to the highway.  In the end I decided to take the train to Sydney.  I haven't been on a train in a very long time.  I have reservations there through the 27th and while there isn't a rental available in downtown I'm sure I can find one SOMEWHERE.  If I can't I'll take a train into the Blue Mountains and from there north.

I am not disappointed by this turn of events.  No matter how well you plan there will be glitches and there are many, many things to see in Australia.  I just need to make it to Baradine on time!

Day 6-Tasmania: Queenstown to Launceston

 The gas story. After much wandering about I finally found a gas station--closed.  I should have read the signs more.  I decided to go on to the next place to fill up when the yellow - "hey dummy, you are about out of gas", light came on. So, I turned around and wandered my way back to the gas station.  I had decided to just wait for them to open when I read the sign about after-hours fill ups!  Followed those instructions and was back on the road.  

Again, more winding tree tunnels but they did disappear into open fields with grazing critters.  The roads were also a definite improvement on the previous days and with little traffic I arrived in Bernie.  I didn't stop and look around as I needed to turn the rental in by 1:30pm.  Got to drive by the water for a while which was very nice before I turned inland.  I made it to the airport about an hour early even after filling the rental's tank.

Checked in, cleared security, with hours to spare.  Then nearly missed my flight as I wasn't paying attention!  So, I did the "Airport Run"!  Thankfully, it's a small airport, I was next to the last one on the plane.  An hour and 5 minutes later I was on the ground in Melbourne.  There was another glitch here, I made reservations at the Holiday Inn in Werribee (I have no frame of reference for where things are!) assuming I'd have car.  However, no cars were available!  I took a cab to the hotel, pricey but it was a long way!

I Checked in, ate dinner, promised myself I'd figure out the next step tomorrow and  crashed in the lovely King Sized bed! 

Day 5-Tasmania Hobart to Queenstown

 

After leaving my Hobart Hotel and navigating my way out of town and towards the west coast of Tasmania I traveled through high country meadows, grasses colored for fall.  That orangish grass reminds me very much of Montana. Although the trees are sill green even though they seem mostly deciduous.

From another angle-I think I'm about to enter those mountains on this trip.

I was stopped at a place with the "i" marker, similar to a roadside marker in the States.

I loved these grasses with the mountains behind!  I think this one may make the gallery wall.

After that I did find myself in the mountains, traveling winding roads (again) within tree tunnels, sigh.  I did stop at a place called  The Wall (thanks for recommending it Jo!)  A wonderful art installation depicting some of the areas history in massive wood bias relief.  Beautifully done although not complete in places in order to show the process.  The only criticism I had was concerning the gift shop.  They had nice local crafts etc but no items that would fit handily in a suitcase!  There were two tour buses there so they missed out on some additional income.  This is something I am finding to be  normal here-so far I haven't bought ANY goodies to take home!

Now for an interesting story, or maybe a disastrous one take your pick.  I arrived in Queenstown hungry and tired to discover I was booked into a hotel (I'm using that word lightly) where there was no one on site to check you into your room (at that point I still hadn't figured out how to make a call with the international stuff involved and their check in was "Virtual")  You entered a code and dug your room key out yourself.  I had a premonition that this wasn't going to be good.  The lady at the next hotel managed to get the owner? on the phone and she told me I would be in Dorm 1 Room 8.  Just let me say I would NEVER have booked this if I thought I'd be dealing with a window that was frozen open, a bed with two dead pillows, one blanket and a shared bathroom!  Fortunately, there was a heater so I didn't freeze.  I did not sleep well and was up early ready to leave.  There was just one little hitch there: I needed gas.  More on Day 6!

Day 4 Tasmania-Swansea to Hobart

I was in no particular hurry to leave Swansea as it was lovely! So, I went for a walk on the beach, tried out the water temperature-I expected it to be as cold as it is in San Diego but it was MUCH warmer!  There was one brave paddle boarder out on the bay but besides that nothing else moving except people, dogs, and birds--not many of those except the gulls, of course!

Spied this very nice rock "sculpture" just beyond the High tide mark.  I wonder how long it took to get all those rocks to balance?

After a trip to the IGA market I began the drive to Hobart.  The roads were better for the most part and it was easier driving.  Somewhere along the way I stopped and took some photos.

I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing the water!

Lots of these little flowers-fading in the fall weather.

Some of the Orange lichen found on the rocks here.

Got back on the road, stopped for gas (petrol) and had to have help getting the gas cap off!  Turns out you have to push it in pretty hard while you turn it.  Sort of like a child proof medicine bottle!  Continuing on toward Hobart I stopped at Seven Mile beach.

Low tide so the wave ripples were fun.

I didn't stay long as I was close to Hobart and the traffic was getting fairly heavy.  I did not have GPS as I had no Wi-Fi connection and that meant I wandered about looking for my hotel!  I did at last stumble upon it but I wasn't willing to go out for dinner so I ate the Ramen Noodles I had bought for and emergency!  Also, Tim-Tams but they don't count, do they?  Must take some of those home!

Chatted at bit on Zoom with Chooky and some of the others.  Scrub Stitching is getting closer and closer!  I am really looking forward to it!

 

Day 3 Tasmania

Another very early day.  

Another early flight. (The number of flights taken so far this trip is growing-now stands at 5)

I do like the security check at Melbourne!  No removing liquids, electronics or shoes! Apparently, their machines can see inside without all that.  Off to Launceston.  First time in 40 years that I a boarded and disembarked via STAIRS!  Also they loaded the plane from both the front and the back-so much to learn on this trip!  A little over an hour later and we landed-and I got locked out of the building!  Ground crew to the rescue!

After retrieving my luggage I picked up this little baby,

for my first adventures in left side driving.

I have to say that left side driving was less difficult than I imagined it would be!  There is still a half-second of panic that the car coming towards you is in your lane and going to hit you head on!  In other words there were many adrenaline rushes.  That said driving in Tasmania is a challenge.  None of the roads are marked-on the map they are but THEY are not! So, I ended up taking the scenic route.  It was VERY scenic!  Up and down round and round-endless tree tunnels that suddenly opened up to deep valleys and open hillsides full of fat: cows, sheep, pigs, alpacas, etc!  The folks who live  there take advantage to the view by building on an opposing hillside, I wonder if they forget about the view?  Anyway, the roads are narrow added to the twists and turns so driving would have been a challenge in my own vehicle,  The rental is light so every bump in the road caused it to jump and sometimes slide off the pavement.  Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic!  Enough whining.  I did finally arrive in St Helens on George's Bay!

  I had a very late lunch there at 

Jeff and Nick's Tucker Truck

Everyone knows that I was looking forward to this:

It was delicious!

Then it was back on the road.  A couple of missed turns happened next, both created some back tracking!  I'm blaming the lack of road numbers and the fact that I DO NOT know the names of ALL the towns between where I am and where I'm going.  I hope today is better in that regard.

Anyway, I did arrive in Swansea where I had reservations.  My room has a deck and overlooks The Great Oyster Bay.  Beautiful.  It's strange knowing that Jenny was here not long ago! 

Just to prove I am really here !

Tired but happy!

                                            

         The Great Oyster Bay.

Day One!

After 15 hours or so of flying in total darkness the sun made an appearance!  

I started out Tuesday morning (San Diego time) about 4:30am, 3 hours later my son picked me up and took me to the Airport.  Went through security, found the gate, (also Coffee!) and waited for the 10:30 flight to LAX.  30 minutes after we took off we landed.  It was pouring rain and every time I found a window it was still raining.  If you haven't heard California has been hit with a BIG storm (atmospheric river) every 3 days or so.  These are causing major flooding and mud slides and piling up yet more snow in the mountains.  California was in a major drought but I don't think getting it all at once is very helpful.  I know San Diego was greener than I have ever seen it.  Anyway, after landing in Terminal 7 I discovered that International flights are in Terminal B.  That meant I walked through Terminal 7, Terminal 6, Terminal 5, and Terminal 4 to get there.  I for sure got my steps in!  Then I waited, emailed with Chooky and my family and read.  Then I waited some more.  The Melbourne flight began boarding about 9:45pm (So that 10 hours I waited) we took off a little after 10pm. I did manage to sleep some of the way but it was not especially comfortable.  We arrived about 7:30 am Melbourne time, picked up luggage, and cleared customs.  (Chooky, you'll be glad to know I still have the canned pumpkin!)  My poor sleep addled brain had trouble figuring things out so I decided that staying at the airport hotel made some sense (especially since I'm leaving in two days for Tasmania).  I've managed to remain awake so that normal sleep might happen tonight.

So far I've learned that I want to upgrade from economy on my next international trip,  that travel pillows are not worth the trouble they cause (sorry Beth), that glass Coke bottles in Australia have twist off tops and that even the hot water is on the right not the left!

Decisions, decisions, decisions. . . .

 That's what February was made of.

When taking a long trip to another country-even one you have always wanted to visit-means endless decisions.  With no real framework to work with.  I have maps, 3 of them, but I can't always find places I need on them even when I google them first!  Anyway, I have the first leg of the trip planned after that it gets more like a general idea until I'm actually there.

For those of you that are interested here's the bare bones:  I leave this coming Friday for an airport hotel as I have a VERY early flight on Saturday to San Diego, California and a 3 day visit with my oldest Son, bonus daughter 1 and granddaughter!  I leave San Diego on Tuesday and fly to LAX to catch the flight to Melbourne!  After 2 days to attempt some sleep and deal with the jet lag thing I'm off to Tasmania for 4 days/3 nights.  You should all pray for me and anyone who happens to be driving then as I will drive for the first time on the left!  I will be careful but after 55 years of driving on the right it will quite interesting.

After Tasmania I'm headed up the coast to Cairns, skipping over Sydney.  Anyone who knows lovely things to see, yummy food to eat and nice(reasonable) places to sleep let me know!  Then on April 7, I fly from Cairns to Sydney for 2 days.  I really want to go to the ballet at the Opera house!  Then it's off to Baradine (or Chooky's house) for Scrub Stitching!

The last part of the trip is very unclear at the moment except that I need to end up in Melbourne for 2or 3 days before I leave for the States on April 28!  Again, anyone with things to see, yummy food and nice places to stay let me know.

I still have a few things to do:  arrange for international telephone, cut my project for Scrub Stitching, and do my taxes.  Clean house, laundry etc.  I should be busy right up until I leave the house on Friday!

Only 5 more get ups and I'm on my way!