well i’m on my way…

Day 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!

After the terrible snow storm last night I was afraid that I’d be grounded today…it looks like I’m leaving as planned!  *knock on wood* I have those “new boyfriend butterflies” in my stomach, not sure if I’m nervous or excited (or a little bit of both).  I can’t believe that after almost a year of planning today is the day.  It doesn’t seem real yet…

Next time I blog, I will officially be “down under” and enjoying summer.  Here’s a Simpsons-style Nelson “HaHa” for all of you.  😉

I’m not leaving for another 88 days (yes, I’m counting), but I’m slowly trying to get ready.  In actuality, I’m delaying myself from studying my Spanish verbs.  I’ve set up this blog 1. for my mother, who really really wants me to purchase a cell phone and call her once a week, which I REFUSE to do; 2. to make my friends and family jealous; and 3. as a nicer way to organize my trip than a beat up book of random thoughts.  It will be  like the final copy as I’m traveling.  At least it’s what I’m hoping.

Rau is my stuffed animal kangaroo that I recieved as a gift when I was 6 months old.  He looks nothing like a kangaroo-with missing ears and tail, falling-off eyes, and a neck that doesn’t stand straight up.  I figured he needs a vacation too, so I’m bringing him along to be in pictures and hopefully he won’t scare away the boys!  I just hope I don’t leave him behind anywhere like I did when I was a kid as my mom won’t be able to go back and get him for me!!

I’m waiting for a friend to set a date for her wedding so I know exactly when I have to be back and where I will go.  Besides Australia, it’s all tentative.  But New Zealand is for sure.  After that, well, I have an itinerary forming in my head, but I’m not ready to disclose that quite yet…