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.