I left Sydney with Daniel, Shanna and Talia. We took a ferry up to the Central Coast, to MacMaster's beach, Daniel's hometown. I was so lucky to stay with Nick and Sue Sivertsen, Daniel's parents. They were wonderful! They fed us with gourmet dishes every day, always had beer on hand and Australia's fine rum, and were fun people to be around. They even came running when I got electrocuted by trying to pull out my Australian electric adapter. (The plastic housing came off and my fingers ended up gripping the two metal prongs!)Daniel's entire family, including his three siblings, Nicko, Gaby and Eleanor could not have been friendly. They really made me feel like part of the family.
It was also great to see my friends from California, Stacy, Lyn, and Marc and Lyn, as well as Shanna and Talia's Dad Jose and his wife Elizabeth. The American contingency also included Shanna's friends from UC Santa Barbara, who I remembered from her college days and all those lacrosse games! The wedding was set for approximately 100 people, 20 from the US and 80 from Daniel's family! Yes, we are a family of pretty much five. Shanna is so happy to be accepted so warmly into Daniel's big family! She could not have found a nicer group of people!
Some of us headed back to Sydney and we were pleased to congratulate Talia for completing her Master's Degree at the University of Melbourne in Public Health and Epidemiology last November. Talia is a research scientist and is devoting her life to finding a cure for AIDS. You go girl! I am so proud of you! Thanks to Jose and Elizabeth for hosting a fabulous dinner for Talia at a beautiful restaurant in Bondi beach overlooking the ocean! The food was wonderful!
The events surrounding the wedding helped everyone to get to know each other and helped the US people see Australia. Two days before the wedding we all met back again in Sydney for a four-hour cruise around Sydney Harbor. We were lucky to have sun that day since it had been pretty cloudy and drizzly the days preceding the sail. It was wonderful! The next night was the rehearsal dinner at the Sivertsen's for the wedding party. Boy! Do they know how to entertain. I can only say that every single dish I ate at their house was like eating at a 5-star restaurant! Thanks Nick and everyone who helped in the kitchen (not so much me). The following day was the wedding and we were worried since it was raining in the morning. But around noon the sun came out and stayed out to send beams down through trees for the forest wedding. I have to say that one of those "milestone moments" in life as a parent is to see your daughter get married, at least, to see your daughter happier than she has ever been and to realize that as a parent, you worked very hard to get her to this point and it was all so worth it. The sparkle in her eye, the adoring way Daniel always looks at her, that will always be etched in my memory, as you can't take a picture of that. Congratulations you two! The wedding went off without a hitch as Jose and I led Shanna down the path to Daniel. Daniel's Dad, Nick, is an officiant, so he married the two after asking Jose and me if we were willing to "give her away." It was a beautiful forest wedding, with the sun shining down through the trees. Suddenly, Shanna and Daniel were married!
The reception at the Surf Club in Terrigal was also eventful. After 100 people were seated and the wedding party danced into the room one group at a time to each of their favorite music, Nick found out that the caterer had made a mistake and thought the wedding was the next night! NO FOOD FOR 100 PEOPLE! Can you imagine? Nick worked his food wizardry again by calling some restaurant friends and an hour and a half later we all sat down to a terrific Indian dinner. What difference does it make if we started dancing BEFORE dinner? We were happy to continue afterwards and everyone had a great time! It was a magical night.
The next day the Sivertsen family once again hosted everyone at a barbeque at their house! I truly have never seen such generous and kind hosts! I took photos of the food because it was too good to describe in words. You will just have to look for yourself. All the people who were still around in Australia were invited. It was here we had to say goodbye to Marc and Lynne. Lyn and Stacy had left the day before, as did some of Shanna's friends. But there was still a big crowd there. Some went swimming, some drank, some drank and went swimming, but everyone ATE!!!! Thanks to all the people helping in the kitchen! (not so much me again...sorry).
On Sunday, the two families met in Avoca beach for brunch. Boy! Australia sure has great food! That day Jose and Elizabeth left for Cairns, I went to the Reptile Park, Talia went to Melbourne, Shanna and Daniel went to the beach and I hope Nick and Sue got to rest. I saw all of Australia's requisite animals at the reptile park, so it was a very worthwhile day. That night I went with Shanna and Daniel and Daniel's parents to yet another fabulous restaurant, this time a Thai restaurant. What a great last night on the Central Coast! The next day I left for Melbourne to see Talia! To see the photos of the wedding, click here.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
California
Well, I started my trip in Los Angeles. I don't like Los Angeles much, but that's where Shanna and Daniel live. We had a nice quiet first night. The next day we all drove to San Diego, where I stayed at my friend Sylvia's. Sylvia and I had a great time and so did Katie, Bob's granddaughter who was also staying at Sylvia's. Sylvia was very generous, letting me borrow her car and helping me with the many things I always need to do when I leave Nicaragua and go to the States.
The first weekend I went with Shanna, Daniel and Daniel's friend Zak to Rosarito, Mexico! We had a blast eating REAL Mexican food, shopping in the market and drinking beers at Papas and Beers bar on the beach. Funny thing...there were no people there! We were the only "foreigners" in the market, at the bar and in the restaurants! I guess the kidnapping and murders that seem to be happening in border towns in Mexico has seriously affected the tourist trade there. But we had great lobster dinners and tasty margaritas before we headed back to the U.S. and had to wait two and a half hours in line to cross the border! We were exhausted, but decided to venture into downtown San Diego to a place called SHOUT, which is a dueling piano bar. I was singing all night!
The next dayl the boys took off for Pacific Beach while Shanna and I did one of our favorite things that we like to do in California...we went shopping!!!! Got some good bargains too! Talia had surprised us and ended up in California. She was up in San Francisco at this time, visiting Azin and Glenda, her two best college friends.
I spent the week in California, taking care of business and doing some fun things in San Diego. Spent some fabulous time with my wonderful friend and neighbor Gloria and her cousin (and my property manager)Kitty. Saw the movie Black Swan with Lyn Hall, who was meeting me later in Sydney since she was coming to the wedding too. During the week, Sylvia invited me to see the Light Parade, the Christmas boat parade that motors through San Diego Harbor during the Holidays. It was spectacular!!! We enjoyed our share of great ethnic food and Sylvia invited me to High Tea at the hotel Del Coronado, a special thing that they do during the December holiday season. The hotel Del is considered one of the 10 best hotels in the world!
Sylvia, Katie and I enjoyed great conversations throughout the whole stay. I wish Katie the best when she returns to China for two years to teach English and experience living in a foreign culture. What a great young woman! Sylvia and I had a big meeting about the book we had started a couple of years ago and we hope to resurrect it!
The following weekend I was very happy to attend my friends' Christmas party. Marc and Lynne Friedmann have had this party for years and years and I usually can't attend because I am not in the U.S at the time. Great food, great people, a wonderful evening all in all.
The next day I headed back up to Los Angeles. Talia was returning from San Francisco and I spent the next two days with Daniel, Shanna and Talia. Talia and I also spent a day shopping. It reminded us of the old days...we used to love shopping together! The kids left for Australia on the 22nd and I was supposed to return to Marc and Lynne's house in Solana Beach (north of San Diego) for the next three days until we all left for Australia. Coincidentally, we were all on the same plane! Unfortunately, Mother Nature interfered with my plans. It rained so hard that they had to shut the train (AMTRAK)down between San Diego and Los Angeles, so I was stuck in Los Angeles in Daniel and Shanna's apartment. I didn't know a soul in that city of 11 million or so, so I watched a lot of movies relaxed. Not a bad thing to do for a change. On Christmas Day, I left for Australia! Click here to see photos of this section.
The first weekend I went with Shanna, Daniel and Daniel's friend Zak to Rosarito, Mexico! We had a blast eating REAL Mexican food, shopping in the market and drinking beers at Papas and Beers bar on the beach. Funny thing...there were no people there! We were the only "foreigners" in the market, at the bar and in the restaurants! I guess the kidnapping and murders that seem to be happening in border towns in Mexico has seriously affected the tourist trade there. But we had great lobster dinners and tasty margaritas before we headed back to the U.S. and had to wait two and a half hours in line to cross the border! We were exhausted, but decided to venture into downtown San Diego to a place called SHOUT, which is a dueling piano bar. I was singing all night!
The next dayl the boys took off for Pacific Beach while Shanna and I did one of our favorite things that we like to do in California...we went shopping!!!! Got some good bargains too! Talia had surprised us and ended up in California. She was up in San Francisco at this time, visiting Azin and Glenda, her two best college friends.
I spent the week in California, taking care of business and doing some fun things in San Diego. Spent some fabulous time with my wonderful friend and neighbor Gloria and her cousin (and my property manager)Kitty. Saw the movie Black Swan with Lyn Hall, who was meeting me later in Sydney since she was coming to the wedding too. During the week, Sylvia invited me to see the Light Parade, the Christmas boat parade that motors through San Diego Harbor during the Holidays. It was spectacular!!! We enjoyed our share of great ethnic food and Sylvia invited me to High Tea at the hotel Del Coronado, a special thing that they do during the December holiday season. The hotel Del is considered one of the 10 best hotels in the world!
Sylvia, Katie and I enjoyed great conversations throughout the whole stay. I wish Katie the best when she returns to China for two years to teach English and experience living in a foreign culture. What a great young woman! Sylvia and I had a big meeting about the book we had started a couple of years ago and we hope to resurrect it!
The following weekend I was very happy to attend my friends' Christmas party. Marc and Lynne Friedmann have had this party for years and years and I usually can't attend because I am not in the U.S at the time. Great food, great people, a wonderful evening all in all.
The next day I headed back up to Los Angeles. Talia was returning from San Francisco and I spent the next two days with Daniel, Shanna and Talia. Talia and I also spent a day shopping. It reminded us of the old days...we used to love shopping together! The kids left for Australia on the 22nd and I was supposed to return to Marc and Lynne's house in Solana Beach (north of San Diego) for the next three days until we all left for Australia. Coincidentally, we were all on the same plane! Unfortunately, Mother Nature interfered with my plans. It rained so hard that they had to shut the train (AMTRAK)down between San Diego and Los Angeles, so I was stuck in Los Angeles in Daniel and Shanna's apartment. I didn't know a soul in that city of 11 million or so, so I watched a lot of movies relaxed. Not a bad thing to do for a change. On Christmas Day, I left for Australia! Click here to see photos of this section.
Sydney
Sydney is a gorgeous city! First impressions.....so easy to get around on public transportation (train, bus and ferry), very clean, very orderly and the people are fabulous! When I arrived in Sydney, after being awake for 40 hours, I showered and changed and headed by train and taxi to Ruth's house, Daniel's aunt, for an after-Christmas party. What a great way to meet the whole family! The party was terrific, especially with Daniel's father Nick making telicious savory pastries and desserts. One of his many professions is GOURMET CHEF! Lots of wine to drink....everyone gave me bear hugs and made me feel a part of the family. The only thing...I had been told that I was arriving in the middle of the Australian summer..it was supposed to be about 90 degrees every day! Well, that particular day, it couldn't have been over 60 degrees. I was so cold that I lost the feeling in my fingers and toes and Aunt Ruth had to give me a winter coat!!! But it wass great! I finally saw both of my daughters, Talia and Shanna, together at the same time! That is almost imposssible with me living in Nicaragua, Shanna and Daniel in Los Angeles,and Talia in Melbourne, Australia!
Stacy was already waiting for me at the hotel, which was just over the Harbor Bridge, a fabulous location! The train was a 15 minute walk, the ferry to the center of Sydney was a 5 minute walk! The next morning Lyn arrived and the three of us saw as much as we could possibly see of Sydney in the short time we had. We met Shanna and Talia for lunch in Manly Beach, then Shanna had to leave, but the rest of us did the hike from Spit Point to Manly Beach. Gorgeous! In the next three days we managed to go to the world-famous Bondi beach, Chinatown, Newtown (the bohemian area something like Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco) and the Rocks (maybe like Rodeo drive in Los Angeles). At nights we sampled pubs (the Argoyle and others ..can't remember the names)and actually went out salsa dancing! (At the Cruise Bar on Thursday nights if anyone goes to Sydney and just HAS TO GO OUT SALSA DANCING, like me.
We ended up spending New Year's Eve in a fabulous house overlooking part of Sydney Harbor..thanks to Lyn's friend back in San Diego who told Lyn to give her friends in Sydney a call! What wonderful people! Great fireworks! The next day we all heading our separate ways. I went with the kids to the Central Coast to prepare for the wedding...... Click here to see photos of Sydney.
Stacy was already waiting for me at the hotel, which was just over the Harbor Bridge, a fabulous location! The train was a 15 minute walk, the ferry to the center of Sydney was a 5 minute walk! The next morning Lyn arrived and the three of us saw as much as we could possibly see of Sydney in the short time we had. We met Shanna and Talia for lunch in Manly Beach, then Shanna had to leave, but the rest of us did the hike from Spit Point to Manly Beach. Gorgeous! In the next three days we managed to go to the world-famous Bondi beach, Chinatown, Newtown (the bohemian area something like Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco) and the Rocks (maybe like Rodeo drive in Los Angeles). At nights we sampled pubs (the Argoyle and others ..can't remember the names)and actually went out salsa dancing! (At the Cruise Bar on Thursday nights if anyone goes to Sydney and just HAS TO GO OUT SALSA DANCING, like me.
We ended up spending New Year's Eve in a fabulous house overlooking part of Sydney Harbor..thanks to Lyn's friend back in San Diego who told Lyn to give her friends in Sydney a call! What wonderful people! Great fireworks! The next day we all heading our separate ways. I went with the kids to the Central Coast to prepare for the wedding...... Click here to see photos of Sydney.
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