we’re not in kansas anymore…
Friday, December 19th, 2008Day 1: December 19, 2008
Let me get two things straight before I tell you about Oz. 1. Rau, my childhood doll, did not come with. He would have ended up in 2 pieces at least, a spa day would have been way over budget for me, and I don’t have room in my pack. Not sure what I’m going to do by way of souvineirs… and 2. The flight from LA to Sydney is 14 hours, not 20. A long 14 hours that might as well have been 20. I think I slept about 5 hours total since Tuesday night in Chicago. And it’s Friday afternoon in Sydney.
When we arrived we circled the city before landing. It reminded me of Florence as a lot of the residential roofs were red. It also reminded me of, well, summer. Every car windshield was reflecting the sun. I could see the backup from the morning rush hour traffic. The clouds were light, fluffy, and sparse. The sky was a crisp blue and the water on the beaches looked turquoise.
Ah, Sydney. (I just realized the computer I’m on doesn’t have a USB port, so sorry, no pics. Yet.) It’s about 75 degrees farenheit, sunny and a bit windy. I’ve already started my sunburn on my sholders on the free city tour the hostel provides. We walked around Sydney for four hours, taking in Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House, the Botannical Gardens, bats, eels, and some old-ass trees.
I am experiencing a bit of sticker shock, but I expect to get over it soon. My lunch of fruit salad and a bottle of water cost $7.50 AUD, so I’m guessing around $6 USD, give or take, depending on the day.
I’m feeling like I’m going to nod off at the computer right here, so I’m going to head back to the hostel for a nap. Hopefully the people I met on the tour don’t intercept me and drag me to the bar!
lauracat