Homeward Bound

I've arrived in San Francisco, and I'm waiting eagerly for my flight home. The SYD-SFO flight was good--felt shorter (a lot shorter) than the outbound...maybe because I slept more this time around. Upon arrival, I enjoyed a shower at the United First Arrivals Lounge. You get a private little changing room/bathroom, fully stocked with towels and a toiletry kit. VERY refreshing. I'm waiting on my AA flight to New York, which is slightly delayed due to bad weather here in SFO. Can't wait to get home!

Last Day in Australia

I leave today for home, after an amazing two weeks. Last night I went out with M & T and a couple of their friends for dinner at a restaurant with stellar views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Figuring it was appropriate, I had rack of lamb one last time--it was fantastic. I'm spending the morning doing last-minute things, such as buying Tim Tams and Cherry Ripe to take home with me. It is a bit rainy this morning, so not sure that any more sightseeing is in the cards for me.

It has been a great trip, but I am very ready to go home.

Bondi Beach

I met up with M & T and a couple of their old Aussie friends for dinner last night at a restaurant in Bondi Beach. The meal was great, and the setting was simply breathtaking, right on the beach. The first shot is at dusk that night, and the second shot is from this afternoon, when we returned to the beach for some sun.

Hats

Almost everyone in Australia takes staying out of the sun quite seriously. The sun is very intense here, and Australia has one of the highest (if not the highest) rates of skin cancer in the world. Most everyone has some sort of sun protection, including big floppy hats like these!

Back to Sydney--Last Two Days

I left Melbourne today and arrived in Sydney for my last couple of days in Australia. I'm meeting up with T and M tonight for dinner out in Bondi.

Greta and Greg, Plus One

After spending a wonderful afternoon with Mick and Prue, I met up with Greta at my hotel, and she drove me out to her home, where her fiancee Greg was fast at work preparing a tasty Thai stirfry. Greta, as I'm sure she is so very weary of hearing, looks exactly the same as when I last saw her...minus the pigtails and with the addition of a soon-to-be-born baby. See if you don't agree with me, those of you who knew her way-back-when:

She and Greg have a cool and comfy house on a street corner in Seddon--and we spent the evening catching up over beers (for the boys, mineral water for Greta) and dinner. Greg is quite a cook, and the stirfry really hit the spot.

They are planning to go to Hawaii so I gave them a few leads based on my trip to Oahu and Maui. Greg's a bit of a vulcanologist, but I couldn't help him there other than to suggest they see the lava fields on Maui.

Thanks again, Greta and Greg, for letting me stay with you, and I really appreciated the lift to the train station in the morning!

Hej, Prue and Mick!

Today I was reunited with Prue and Mick--Thor and Greta's parents. Last time I saw them was 1978. They lived in the same apartment building as my family when my dad was on sabbatical to Stockholm, Sweden. Even though it had been 30 years, we still hit it off as if it was only yesterday. It was really a treat to see them again, and we had a great time visiting over lunch.

Prue and Mick live in a lovely area of Melbourne very close to Melbourne University--a neighborhood very similar in many respects to Clintonville in Columbus. They have a great arts & crafts/Victorian brick home, with an amazing garden. My mom and Prue were very close during our time in Sweden, and I must admit, Prue is so very similar in many respects to my mom that it is almost uncanny. Both Prue and my mom look very similar, they both love gardening and are both excellent cooks. Speaking of lunch...we had a fantastic lunch in Prue's garden, consisting of poached trout with spicy plum sauce, potato salad and fresh green beans, followed by fresh mango and ice cream. Needless to say, I loved it. The weather was absolutely perfect too--the prior day's 102 degrees was long gone, and it was a balmy 75 degrees or so.

We visited for several hours, catching up on news about our respective families. After having a cuppa tea, and promising to return again soon to really explore Melbourne, Mick drove me back to my hotel so that I could rendezvous with Greta.

Thanks again, Prue and Mick, for such a great lunch!

Is Kangaroo Kosher?

Alas, I'm pretty sure it is not, but boy, is it delicious. I had char-grilled kangaroo served over rocket and beetroot salad, and it was fantastic. It cooled down in Melbourne last night. Remember how it was 102 degrees? Well, within a few hours, the winds shifted, and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees in a matter of an hour or so. Pretty wild. So I took a walk on the promenade on the south bank of the Yarra River, and I found a place with outdoor seating and enjoyed a great meal al fresco. Sauteed softshell crabs with chili sauce and charcoal seared marinated kangaroo over greens. Delicious.

Today I'm meeting up with more old friends from Sweden--I'm having lunch with Mick and Prue and then meeting Greta and Greg later tonight. Should be a great day!