The pursuit of happiness....

In my office is a quote -- "The constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself" Ben Franklin.   In my profession, that can be a hard to do sometimes.  My grandmother said I was happiest when I was planning a trip, going on one, and coming home from one.  That is my passion - traveling, meeting new people, hanging out with old friends, experiencing new things and learning lots. 

I am trying to incorporate my favorite hobby into a new form of work.  I took a travel writing class (not that it "took" as we say down here) and my travel writing instructor said that my writing could benefit from me writing a blog.  So that is one of the reasons I started this blog on my last trip.  Also, I know I need more practice and that is why I am going to continue my blog.   I might be in a lovely blue green office located in the sweltering south (my a/c is working right now).  I am going to blog about my previous trips, starting with my trip last year to Croatia and Italy, which changed my perspective on a lot of things.  I learned to say "no" and "yes" at the right times (or so I thought).  Most of my friends and family, who are reading this have heard all about my trip anyway, but they got the overview.  I will try to describe it in a little more detail and from a practicing writer's standpoint. 

My travel buddy, thankfully, probably will not be reading this so any misstatements I make can't be corrected anyway. :) 

Prologue - the background:

In the fall of 1996, right after I survived graduate school, I worked/interned in London and met some very interesting characters.  The first person I met was a lovely Chinese lady (or so I thought -- It's kind of like me, I look normal and then I open my mouth and Scarlett O'Hara pops out).  Sweet Wai, opened her mouth and Eliza Doolittle showed up.  I loved her immediately.  She was so different than anyone I had known before. I never knew anyone from London's East End and she was a working "City Girl".  Very posh, stylish, in charge and feminist for me.  She had a house in Essex and made us curry and had dinner parties.  Her partner chucked it all to go to acting school (I don't think she ended up with him).  She knew her way around London like a pro.  Took me to street markets no one has ever heard of (I bought shirts and boots on the street with her).  I thought she was one cool cat, like the popular girls in school you wanted to hang out with.

Then there was the Welshman.  He was a dear.  He looked like a professor, he had short reddish hair and a reddish goatee and wore tweed.  He was very smart and knew all the big words.  Just what you would expect someone from the UK to be like. He made sure I knew he was from Wales (like I would know the difference or not).  On my first day at work, he and the "boys" took me immediately to the "bank" (ie we went down to O'Neills Pub, as I don't drink then nor now, beer, I had a half pint of cider -- yummy).  He made bank runs frequently.  He had a little issue with that, but a better hearted person you wouldn't find.  He loved to give advice and to a fresh out of school American he had an apt pupil.  What area of town to live in, where to go eat, what to go see, etc.  When I left they even gave me a going away party at his little flat.  Sadly, he has since died.   I sent him Christmas cards up until then and got an email with the sad news.

The Kiwi and the Italian, they were the "boys".  We would go to eat quite a bit together during our lunch time (when weren't filling out stupid time sheets for the bosses in Italy -- normally they said we "perused" a file -- I had never "perused" anything until London) and go out after work as well.  Wai christened them Savage (in his three piece suit) and Dodgy (in his hunting coat).  Savage, the youngest in the office, and from New Zealand had savage ways she said.  Dodgy was from Italy and had the Italian cosmopolitan ways.

Savage, who became a good friend and later a travel partner (ie on two Italian adventures), worked in the office with me.  He would sit over at his desk and assist me in rewriting my letters (because I am too wordy and was learning to be professional -- this was my first "real" job).  He had curly brown hair, funny brown eyes and a wicked Cheshire grin -- like he was always up to something.  He worked on contracts and other "British" issues.  He fashioned himself the ladies man and always had a few "birds" on the line, as he liked to call them.   We hit a few of the tourist sites (I drug him, he would never have known the Temple of Mithras was around the corner from our office without me).  He introduced me to London Aussie nightlife and to proper "English" (tried to tell me how to speak properly -- France can be pronounced many different ways I learned, just like tomato.)

Dodgy, who also became a friend, worked in the next office.  He had the problem of dealing with the Italy (main office) and translations (he spoke and read English fluently)-- so he did real work.  Translating and dealing with the Italian clients was his main focus.  He was very outgoing and sweet tempered.  He had a great sense of humor and laughed a lot (mostly at what I said or did --  I guess they all laughed a lot at what I might have said or did, I was quite the country bumpkin in the big city).  He was a very nice guy who ended up marrying a Scottish girl and working for Amnesty International (a calling I guess) and remaining in the British Isles.  A big change for a young man from the beautiful ancient city of Venice. 

My other office mate wasn't there the day I got there, she only worked part time -- Helen.  She was this beautiful, exotic English girl.  She was petite and had blonde hair, a quick wit, and big blue eyes.  In the US, she would have been the life of the party.  She was fluent in Italian, which I so admired - me speaking my own version of English.  She had the confidence to lead an army it appeared to me.  I am good friends with her today and she still amazes me with her life and free spirit and energy (I don't know how she does it all).   She is one of those people that you know can do anything (kind of like my mom).  She worked mainly doing Italian translations.  One time she drove us all across Tower Bridge at night coming home from a dinner party (what a cool experience, one of the first times I had ridden on the left side of the road and not been in a taxi).

We also had a few other office workers with us -- a sweet beautiful Venetian girl who was somewhat proficient in English, but a little flaky.  She meant well.  This was one of her first jobs also.  The other girl was cut from a different cloth and from many different countries. She had been sent by the main office, I suspected she was there to spy on us (as I became an expert at perusing and Minesweeper, maybe they were right to have a "spy" in our midst).  I did have an interesting day with her when they "pimped" us out (ie made us go all dressed up and networking) at the Milan Chamber of Commerce meeting in a posh hotel.  She knew how to work a room and get contacts for sure, I guess you call her a rainmaker. 

I was only in London for a short time for some training in International Business, but I had a grand time.  My travel buddy was a bear of a guy from Lodi, California (yes, just like the Eagles song).  He had the best heart and was a hoot.  He was tall and had a strawberry blonde bushy beard. I was never in fear with him.  He was built like a linebacker but he had a great smile and was a big teddy bear.  He and I would meet up in the evening to visit and go on day trips to see the countryside (saw where Charles Dickens was from  and in the workhouse).  He was a great London companion to have too.

I start my Croatia/Italy blog this way because my travel buddy on that trip was Savage and we met up with Helen and her family in Italy....

Prologue 2 would be a whole other blog on our first Italian Adventure in Big Pimpin' and my New Zealand trip -- a journey to Middle Earth... But I only give this prologue to set the scene for the Croatia/Italian trek or what I termed "How I melted in Italy" (it was troppo caldo the whole time)......

WHY GO ON VACATION? GOOD FOR THE SOUL? DOES ONE REALLY NEED AN EXCUSE? OR A REASON?

I just read the best article (while I was supposed to be working diligently, of course, to catch up on my time off).  See -- now other people agree with me that taking a vacation benefits you mentally -- you have to believe it, it was on CNN. (ha ha)  Mental health days are not a joke but a scientific study. 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/24/vacation.mental.benefits/index.html?hpt=C2

I heartily agree with the story, relaxation and a break from reality are a good thing.  Taking off of work, especially if you have a stressful job (or even if you don't, working the assembly line can be just as stressful as being a nurse in the ER), can be the best medicine for your ails.  This article gives you a REASON to leave -- for your mental health. 

Workaholic ails ---
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/05/25/workaholics.dont.take.vacation/index.html

In the U.S.,  most workplace vacation policies are 2 weeks max and most of the time you can’t take them consecutively (unless you work at a bank, where by law you have to in order for them to make sure you are not a thief).  I guess the premise of Americans living to work is a truth.  While other nationalities mostly work to live. With this premise, U.S. employers are stifling their employees by not giving them significant time off (T & L don’t get any ideas, ya’ll have your vacations planned the same week anyway).  

It feels like employers, fellow workers, family and friends are judgmental if you go on a vacation for more than 5 days (sometimes even if it less than that amount of time).   Really, judgmental, envious?  Why begrudge a hardworking person a few days off from reality?  They should be encouraging it so the person can come back in a better mood. 

  

Even U.S. Presidents get major grief for taking a few days here and there, and they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.  Harry Truman had a place in Key West, FDR in Warm Springs, Georgia, and George Bush regularly went to his retreat in Crawford, Texas.  So why on the news do they give Obama grief about going to Hawaii (his home state) for a few days of visiting friends and family, surf and relaxation.  I say good for him, let him have a couple of hours of getting away from the “office”, even if the whole world is his office.  Maybe those couple of hours breaking from reality helps him focus on the concerns of the country.   

Where?

A vacation doesn’t have to be away somewhere.  It’s just when you leave your normal place of work and leave it for someone else to handle or decide it can wait.   If you work from home -- leave go to a hotel where you can be waited on.  If you work in an office -- don’t go to the office at all during your time off.  

In my life, if I am in my hometown I feel guilty if I am not at my office and it is rare where I do not go to my office for at least a few hours.  Therefore for me to vacation, I have to exit the area entirely.  

Getting away from it all, is that possible? 

Question, in today’s electronic age can you really get away from it all?  Heck no, your office can track you down almost anywhere (if there is cell phone power).  Texts, emails, faxes, and phone conferencing you can keep up with work but on the flipside work can keep up with you too.   

For almost 48 hours in Ayers Rock, we were without cell phones, landline telephones, ATM’s,  and the internet.  If there hadn’t been cable TV, we could have been on the moon or a deserted island for all the isolation we had.  For me after a few hours I got adjusted and enjoyed it.  My travel buddy reacted differently and was hyperventilating because she couldn’t call, email, or text.  My mother would have been in the same boat if she had been there, she cannot be unconnected.  

Ask yourself, how comfortable would you be if you had no communications with anyone for a certain length of time.  Could you handle it?  Most people today probably couldn’t.  I always think back to when I would drive 7 hours to college on weekends, how did I stay awake or survive the drive without being able to call anyone.  

Yes, in our modern age, cellphones and internet access add to the safety of travel.  You can keep in touch with family, and you can also call for assistance when there is an accident.  

Limiting their use is a good thing -- if you are out of the country you are forced to stay off the phone and internet due to high charges.  While traveling in the US, maybe you should use the same strategy and limit your use, to give you more of a break with reality. 

Basics -- For your mental health -- take a vacation.  Where do you go -- away from the place where you work.  What do you travel with -- unfortunately, our electronic items are a necessity, but try to limit their use. 

Enjoy, relax and break from reality.. Now experts agree with that premise. 

Maybe the Aussie Attitude (or maybe European attitude) will catch on worldwide -- Pleasure before Business? We can only hope....... 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/25/cooper.vacation.europe/index.html

A Belle's observations on Australia

Astute Aussie observations -- (there are so many I can’t even think of all of them -- I am “country come to town” remember that when reading below):

1. No one over here puts napkins/serviettes in their laps here when they eat.
2. They are footy crazy (football -- Aussie Rules and regular rugby)
3. No pay at the pump, what’s up with that?  I guess it’s good exercise as you have to walk in to pay, but don’t they have drive offs (refer to number 13, I guess that solves that problem).  
4. McDonald’s is called Maccas -- nicknames abound, refer to number 17 below. Burger King is known as Hungry Jacks.
5. Their thugs have names -- Hoons and drive pimped out cars.
6. No one wears baggy britches here (that’s a relief -- in 30 + days I only saw two).  
7. They eat wedge fries with sour cream and sweet chili sauce (ok, but give me some chili and cheese anyday).
8. People don’t get knocked up or become pregnant -- they fall pregnant (I guess it’s just like falling down stairs? no effort involved?).
9. At restaurants, they give you tap water, normally in a chilled bottle every time you sit down to eat.  :)  And at bars, they have an area where you can get a glass of water.  (Someone explained to me that this was because people go out “drinking” and get dehydrated.)
10. Capsicum? what is that? It’s a bell pepper -- how many different English words are there.  Indicator/blinker (which is on the wrong side of the steering column in left driving cars), lift/elevator, 
11. The Aussie attitude -- Pleasure before business -- the new Passat ad here.
12. They don’t have billboards here (but when I got to Port Stephens beach area they did, but they were low to the ground and not “full on” signs like ours).
13. This place is a nanny state -- lots of government regulation.
14. They have GM but it’s called Holden.   And they have a very interesting vehicle -- a  “Ute” (hum, it’s an El Camino remade and they are plentiful - at first I thought it was so they could hold their surfboards -- nope, never saw a surfboard in a one, but I did see quite a few in quite a few different eye scarring colours).   They also had Ford ones called “Falcon Utes”.  FYI Ute is short for utility.  No big SUV’s here - lots of Honda CRV’s and other smaller SUV’s.  Didn’t see many big Ford or Chevy trucks but did see a few.  Their semis are more like American ones and not European ones. 
15. Their log trucks had guards on the back of them to keep the logs from falling off the back, refer back to the regulation issue.
16. They don’t have ketchup but do have tomato sauce (it’s not as thick and I am sure doesn’t have as much sugar -- gotta love me some Heinz).  Also they had folding packs -- you fold it like a card and the tomato sauce (or mayonnaise or salad dressing) comes out.  It was kind of cool.   They don’t have “our” mustard (even at Subway).  I think I was offered it or saw it twice in 30 days.   But they did have Tabasco everywhere. 
17. Aussies shorten many words -- Bikers are “bikies” (who could be intimidated by a “bikie” sounds too much like a “binkie” (pacifier to me), Fremantle (the town) is Freo.
18. Most vehicles have different names than ours -- Ford Fairlane or Ford Falcon, except Hondas and Toyotas.  
19. They pronounce Hyundai, Nikon, and Mazda differently here, among many many other words.  I guess there really are American and Australian languages.
20. Restaurants in Hunter Valley don’t open for dinner until at least 6:00 or later.
21. Instead of asking “How are you doing?” they ask “How are you going?”
22. Cereal bowls are flat like soup bowls not deep for cereal.  You can’t really dig in.  And I saw a box of Fruit Loops for $15 (needless to say it stayed on the shelf).
23. They don’t eat chips with their sandwiches, even Subway doesn’t sell chips in their stores.  (Also unlike the UK -- where potato chips are crisps, they call potato chips, chips.)
24. Watermelon is a big fruit in Australia and if there are floods in Queensland -- don't look for a cheap banana -- you won't find one :)  $12.99 a kilo.  
25. Books cost a fortune here ($45 for a new hardback or $25 for a softback).  I found many a used book store and no I didn’t buy a lot to bring home -- I bought three (and two were signed to me) books :) and was very proud of myself for my self control. 
26. Clothes and everything else cost a lot here too -- went to the mall and they had a cheapie twin sheet set for $47?  I don’t think so. Never found the TJ Maxx.
27. Visited a few post offices and toward the end of the trip finally figured it out/was schooled on it by a few Aussies -- they are not owned entirely by the government -- Kind of odd for a nanny state to have franchised like post offices.  When you go to a post office you can buy music CD’s, or movies or books or cards or toys or just any type of junk, almost like a dollar store.  I even saw one with food in it.  They are licensed post offices but actually stores -- so it’s like a fast food franchise -- but I guess they still get the mail out.  So I wonder, are postal delivery carriers privately paid or paid by the government?  The “prettiest” post office I saw was in Dunalley, Tasmania - they had the most beautiful flowers in front.  And the one in Mole Creek had the most beautiful wood on the walls. 
28. Speed cameras abound here -- I wonder how many tickets I will have when I get home, my foot is kind of heavy and I had no cruise control on the rent cars (aka hire cars). 
29. They don’t have regular toll booths, you have to have an account set up online or call in and pay.  That’s bogus -- if you want my freaking money, pay a person to sit there and collect it, even the Italians have sense enough to do that?
30. They don’t say Good bye but instead See ya later.   You won’t see them ever again, but I guess in France you say “au revoir”.  See you later Australia -- I will come back -- I met some amazing people who were friendly and helpful to this little Southern Belle/Country Girl.  

DAY 34 -- YUGOSLAVIAN IMMIGRANTS AND BUSINESS CLASS

:(  It’s my last day of vacation and a hard traveling day.  I leave Sydney at 1:50 p.m. on May 18 and arrive in Los Angeles at 9:00 a.m. on May 18, I have never “made” time before.  Should be fun? Right?  Feel better after sorting a few things out on an unexpectedly answered call.  I did miss their comforting voice.  I really did try to be good and not bother anyone, but I did return in the doghouse probably forever. C'est la vie.  Things work out as they should. 

My hotel had a car waiting for me -- how fancy?  My friend and I had tried the shuttle thing before and it was disaster so for a few dollars more -- a car was a great idea.   It was a BMW higher class one, which I think are very expensive here.  The driver was great -- he was from near Trogir, Yugoslavia.  I told him I had visited there last year.  He had emigrated 15 years ago to Australia.  Prior to their war, he had worked in the tourism industry for Yugoslavian Airlines and had visited all over the world and loved Sydney the best, a very nice man.  He helped me out with my bags and said he had seen much worse :). 

I got to the check in and it didn’t open for 30 minutes.  So I sat on a bag and read my book and waited.  (Reading Sullivan McLeod’s “Tunnel Vision” almost through with it.  Great read and I recommend it to any vagabond gypsy, even non surfers like me enjoy his exploits.)  

When the lines opened I was probably in the first 20.  At the counter I asked as I normally do, “Can I upgrade or get a better seat?” and the normal answer is either “no” or “do you want an exit row?”.  This time the answer was do you want first class or business class.  Hello, “How much?”  She told me and as it was just about what a nice hotel room and 3 good meals would be I gave her my credit card quickly in case someone else tried to grab the seat.  :) cha ching.  

I have only traveled first or business class once and that was to France and back from Italy in 2005.  It was great then and I am sure it will be great this time too.   Also she gave me an “express” pass for customs/security and the directions to the lounge.  Yeah me.  

At their passport control you have to have filled out an exit card (didn’t know that).  Then the sweet little guy stamps your passport as leaving.  Went through security, which was more like US security and they made you take out your ipad too.  

Hiked down to the gate area, as I had forgotten a few peoples’ gifts I found just what I was looking for there and had a shopping bag now too for the plane.  Ugh, three bags, I know they will fuss in LA and Houston.  

Went down to the lounge area, how out of place did I feel?  A little country girl like me in a fancy place like that.  I had my money ready for the cafeteria style food set up, but there was no cash register nor prices -- it’s free :)  I got a few mini-muffins and a weird US style mini biscuit and some fruit.  Wished I had the tummy to eat real food, but I normally don’t when I fly.  

Met a very nicely dressed lady from Sydney who lives in DC and is with the National Herb Society (wonder if she says “Herb” or “erb”).  She has lived in the US for 17 years and is retired and just volunteers.  She gave me her card.  

Got to get on the plane early, and found my seat faced backwards, this was going to be weird.  No one was beside me so I could put my toys in that seat.  There was a nicely dressed couple beside me and he smiled all the time.  She was a beautiful older lady who was wearing white jeans.  I mean really, how many ladies can wear white jeans and actually get away with it. 

After I sat down the flight attendants came by with water or real drinks.  As I don’t drink on planes, I took a water.

Take off facing backwards was a weird sensation (as would be the landing).  I had ridden on many a trains facing backwards but not for a take off or landing.  In first class, the video said they had shoulder harnesses.  

My last views of Sydney -- definitely ranks in one of my top 10 big cities:

After we started off, I laid the seat back and started watching, “Barney’s Version” probably not a good idea as it makes you think of your life and life choices very hard  (and this was a very long flight to just sit and think on).  But it was a great movie with Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman and Rosamund Pike.   They all did a brilliant job in their roles.  

During the movie, they first brought us warm bowls with heated nuts and a drink (water for me again).  Then they brought out very quickly your three course dinner -- first course, a salad with vinaigrette dressing, smoked salmon (not for me as it looked and tasted raw-- I could just see me getting sick on a 14 hour plane ride -- not happening), and garlic bread.  Second course, cannelloni, and lastly, pavlova (which is meringue) and fresh fruit -- yum. 

I slept good after that with some dramamine --about 4-5 hours.  Then I woke up to write in my journal (I am catching up quickly), and watched “Life as We Know It”.  It was actually a good movie.  I didn’t remember what it was about and had never seen it.  It was in the comedy section, but it was more of a drama I thought.  But the guys in it were easy on the eyes. 

Slept in that lovely seat that laid straight out like a twin size bed, about 3 hours more, then they brought around breakfast.  This looked amazing but it’s that airplane tummy of mine, don’t eat much so you don’t risk getting sick.  So I ate half.  

I could get used to this business class action.  But I felt like a fish out of water there, an impostor.  Do you think they knew I didn't "belong" up there?  How can I make enough money to afford this every time I travel overseas?  

Got to LAX, nightmare central of course.  Made it through passport control fairly quickly, a nice couple behind me in line headed to Alabama from Japan (where they worked for the government for two years).  Talk about one disaster zone for another.  

Then through customs with my luggage (took the opportunity to stick some of my “new” purchases in my checked luggage too).  Then for some reason LAX feeds you to the outside (horrible signage -- one Aussie couple I had to help find the Bradley terminal because there were NO signs whatsoever).  I found the entrance to my terminal also and went through security again.  The gate area was packed, my flight left in about an hour and a half.   While I was on the phone with my cousin (now that I could call anyone I wanted), some idiot hit a door with an alarm and it was going off for at least 20 minutes -- hurt my ears it was so bad, I had them covered.  

While at the gate, I asked the nice man beside me if he would like the hat I had bought for my brother.  With a sly smile he said, “As I am a Kiwi, no.  But he would probably love it”.  Gotta love that Kiwi/Aussie rivalry.  He was from Auckland and a photographer headed to summer camp in North Carolina to work and then travel to Florida and Argentina -- sounded like a true vagabond to me.  In line we met a interesting sort, weird facial hair -- either do a beard, a goatee or a mustache don’t do a half of all of them as a combo.  He was from the Cayman Islands and telling us about a great scuba place in Belize.  He was on his way to Frankfurt for a year of traveling around Europe.  

On the plane, my seat mates were Allen, a Marine helicopter pilot stationed in Monterey, traveling to Florida to celebrate his birthday with his twin sister.  And Sophie, a daughter of relief workers/Peace Corp volunteers, who was headed home to Clarksville, Tennessee.  Her husband had just retired from the service and works as a consultant for the government training people to do what he used to do.  Both were very nice and talked, but I was beat and curled up in a ball and slept most of the way.  

In Houston, I got a turkey sandwich (love those American sandwiches) and headed to my gate.  Two hours later I boarded my plane home.  A beautiful full moon shone as we flew, my camera wouldn't take the picture very well but I tried.  I could see the craters of the moon clearly.  It was a magical site.  

 My family was waiting for me when I got off the plane ---  I had help with my luggage and got lots of hugs, a great end to a wonderful and magical at times trip......  

Remembered one of my grandmother’s favorite phrases -- “Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home”.  Had a great time in that Sunburned Country and will definitely be going back.  

I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN --- (MY WHOLE TRIP SUMMED UP IN A WAY) ---DAY 33

Got up early today too as I thought my first activity was at 9.  But when I got there at 8:45 I was told it was at 9:55.  So I returned to my hotel room to relax. :)  yeah right?  I had already pscyhed myself up and was going to have to wait?  I could have backed out then. 

Went back to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb for my 9:55 departure :)  Only had a banana and half a muffin but that was all I could stomach on my torn up stomach (I was a tad bit nervous about this adventure).  Sent emails to all I knew telling them adios just in case (they didn’t know that).  

When I got there, I went upstairs and they had a waiting area -- a TV was playing what you were to do in preparation for the climb.  An older man from the UK was there waiting with me.  He was on the 10:00 climb.  The video was very helpful and I took off my watch, but I was still nervous.   (We couldn't take our cameras on the climb.)

Inside the next ante-chamber they had us fill out our releases (a truly American thing for them to do), and checked on our health issues (I have high blood pressure and they wanted to make sure I had taken my medicine etc).  

The next room had big yellow dots on the floor for you to stand on.  The hostess then checked us all out and gave us flight suits and overpants.  Mine looked a little small.  Also this is where the temperature gauge said it was 8 degrees outside with a 5 degree windchill.  She then showed us to the dressing rooms to put these on over our clothes. 

We deposited our handbags and coats etc in lockers.  As we were suited up, they then started attaching everything to our flight suits -- caps and sunglasses had attachment strings.  We met our climb leader -- Bernie from Newcastle.  He had only done this a few times in his life -- 7 years about 3 times a day :).  We got an experienced guide.

Our next stop was for out “work belts” -- we put them over our heads and made them tight -- this is our “safety” belt -- had a safety attachment that would hook us/anchor us to the safety cable on the bridge.    I was the only one who got gloves but we all got handkerchiefs that went around our wrists (I guess so if we were moved to tears on the climb?).   We did a practice run up two sets of ladders and down two sets of ladders (this made me feel more comfortable).  We were hooked on and couldn’t be on the ladder if anyone else was.  They are very safety conscious here.  

In a line we all attached sound boxes to our backs and headsets over our ears (I was the model so Bernie hooked me up).  After we were all geared up -- off we went.  In a space ship like waiting area, we got some water from a fountain and got in line.  As I am not exactly comfortable with heights (I don’t get vertigo like some people I know, I am not keen on heights and do suffer from high anxiety), I let him know.  There were four of us that weren’t all about heights - so he put us up front.  I was right behind him.  That was a comforting thing also being by the leader.  

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can --- was going through my head when I started out on the catwalk under the bridge.  Cripes, what was I thinking.  (Someone told me long ago just to take one thing at a time and look ahead - now this was someone who gets vertigo and couldn’t possible ever do this climb).  I kept my eyes in front only looking to the sides (NOT DOWN).  Bernie’s back was my focal point.  

We made it through a lot of catwalks underneath the bridge.  Then we hit the ladders -- they had three workers there to assist us if there were any problems -- keep my eyes ahead, keep my eyes ahead.  I was the first one up after Bernie.  I took it slow (it didn’t matter Helen, behind me, was slow too) and didn’t have any fits too bad going up.  

At the top Bernie was waiting and he took some photos of me, then SURPRISE he asked me to go up to where his safety clip was (he had two) and then take it with me up about four more positions.  OMG, all by myself and I was on top of the bridge???  I checked out the view and then steeled myself to the challenge (I had done more dramatic things on this trip, why not this?).  Off I went.  One step at a time, got his safety ball and climbed and climbed about four more posts.  Stopped, all alone on top of the world -- had a MAGNIFICENT view of Sydney - the Quay, the Opera House, the Gardens, the downtown, the bay, the outlying areas etc.  It was a clear beautiful day (didn’t need those gloves I had brought, they stayed inside my sleeves the whole time) and you could see forever. I had picked a perfect day to stand on top of the world.  I wasn’t as upset as I thought I was going to be up that high.  Thankfully you couldn’t see through the slats you were walking on.  

On the way up (and down) Bernie told us about the building of the bridge during the depression and stories of the workers on it and others associated with it. (Felix, who tragically died due to poor work conditions and safety features, and Lenny, who rode his horse from Melbourne to see the grand opening).  He noted that the steps we were taking probably were laid by the people who had built the bridge to begin with.  

As it was peaceful at the top alone, I thought about my trip and how much fun I had, the people I had met, the things I had lost (one irreplaceable and very dear to me, but I will get over it and move on as instructed), and the stories I had (kangaroo killer that I was).   Thankfully I didn’t think about all the money I had spent nor the work I was going to have to do to make up for this (I saved that for this moment at the airport, as I am typing this waiting on my last flight home -- almost 24 hours from when I started.)  

On top of the Harbour Bridge I knew this was one of a few “Trips of a Lifetime” I had.  On those other trips backpacking in Europe, temporary living in London, many trips to England, France, Croatia and Italy, I had travel buddies.  So I didn’t really have to do it on my own.  I did take a “Trip of a Lifetime” to New Zealand and did the majority of that on my own (one week with a local old friend).  On this trip I had a travel buddy for 10 days and then it was all me.  I had almost done it with only about 48 hours of stress.  Good on me!!

Helen and the rest joined me and up we continued just a few more rungs and our group was at the top.  We then went to the middle and they all looked down (I didn’t tempt fate).   And as we started down the other side, Bernie kept us entertained with stories.  We had great views on that side of Goat Island and Luna Park and the bay beside it. 

At the end (we didn’t stop as much on the way down), we had to go down the ladders (about 6-8 of them - I didn’t really count).  This is where I almost freaked out - because we HAD to look down and you could see through the slats, and it appeared to me that the ladders were slanted.  I breathed hard and just kept on going, one step at a time. I stopped a couple of times and looked to the sides.  At the bottom, Bernie was waiting on me over across a catwalk.  

We chatted as we waited on the others.  He told me about how when he was about my age he had a dramatic life change -- didn’t like Newcastle and his life there and he took a class is San Francisco about taking what you have cracking it all up, taking the pieces that worked and putting it back where you wanted it ---  Very interesting.  He said he was a musician, artist and adventurer.  He had a great outlook on life and liked what he did.  It was very refreshing to hear someone talk about their passions in life and how happy he was.  

Everyone got down with no problems and off we went to the end.  I won’t lie, I was very happy to have done it, felt very safe up there and would do it again.  But I was ecstatic to be off those catwalks and ladders (the top was the easiest part because you couldn't see through it).

Our group consisted of a Swim School from Melbourne -- their boss had brought 6 of his workers on a “day trip” all paid for to Sydney as a celebration; a couple from Perth in town for a swim event; a couple from the Northern Beaches and their bus driver friend marking this off their bucket list; and a nice young man from London, Aaron. 

Aaron and I decided to go to lunch as we were both traveling on our own.  He looked about my sister’s age (and he was).  He was fascinating.  He is a professional photographer who freelances (his photos online were amazing).  He was originally from Norfolk and ended up in London after school. He had visited friends in Hobart and Brisbane while in Australia so far.  He was headed to Melbourne the end of the week.   He was excellent company and just what I needed today-- someone positive to talk to.

We ate at the Australian Hotel, one of the older establishments in the area (or so they claim).  He had kangaroo pizza and I had crocodile pizza.  If you know me well, you know I only like plain cheese pizza -but as this was my last day -- “when in Rome”.  It was good but the kangaroo was better. 

We had an enjoyable lunch and then went to the Ghost Tours office and got tickets for tonight’s tour.  He proceeded to Bondi Beach, and I ventured to Darling Harbour to pick up a few last souvenirs for people and to use my aquarium and wildlife exhibit tickets I had bought yesterday at the tower.  

To save time I took a cab, and made it there quickly.  I first went to the Hard Rock (not a cafe just a shop :( -- the cafe opens in a month).  Our family collects shirts.  Nothing else in here but junk and a mall.  So I went across a pedestrian bridge to the other side -- where I could get in the aquarium and wildlife center.

You could tell they were owned by the same people.  The Aquarium was surprisingly very good (as I am not a big aquarium/zoo person).  I enjoyed it.  They had most of the Aussie sea/water creatures there.  They had a little bitty platypus (I had seen one in the wild), sea dragons, and a dugong (which I had not seen) that looked like a manatee from  Florida.  

we call them CRAWFISH and eat them boiled with potatoes and corn .... 

They had a lot of Lego figures and backdrops made out of Legos -- looked awesome and you know it took a ton of time to do. 

After this I went to the Wildlife center, and had I not been everywhere I have been and seen all I have seen this would be THE place to go.  They had Koalas, Kangaroos, Crocodiles, etc.  But I had seen so much in the wild I went through it fairly quickly. 

most dangerous bird??

My next stop was the Queen Victoria Building, which was a short walk away (I will miss all of this walking outside).  When I walked in, it felt creepy to me in the lower level (I found out later that night it was on a site of an old graveyard, ugh).  It was a beautiful building and leave it to me to find the mall with the expensive shops-- I wasn’t there for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.  The stained glass was pretty and the building was very pretty.  I found what I was looking for and walked on the rush hour street back to my hotel to change for the Ghost Tour.  

On my way to the tour, I made it all the way down the 22 floors at the hotel and then remembered my jacket.  Back up the elevator.  We were supposed to be there at 6:30, and I got there right on time.  Aaron was running a little late too.  

Maxine, our ghost hostess, didn’t leave us though.  It was a tour of only 4 people, so we got individualized service. This was the “South Rocks” tour.   Maxine really liked her job.  And we learned a lot of the violent history of the area.  It was very interesting, but thankfully we had no encounters (like the ones she was recounting of people seeing things, or feeling things and screaming).  I am a skeptic but know that there are bad feelings you can have about places.  A couple of times you could tell you just didn’t want to be there.  We went up to Observatory Hill which had a great lookout of the Northside of town.   She took us in the Dawes Point Cabin, which is an excavation site under an apartment building -- can we say -CREEPY.  We were alone, in the dark and it smelled funny.  And it was cold.  Wouldn’t want to spend the night here, it had a very negative energy about it.  

painted window because they used to be taxed on them too :)

At the end of the tour, Aaron and I checked out the Harbourview Restaurant.  He got some dish that was steaming when it came out.  Mine was just a big hunk of meat (which of course I shared with him and I only ate a little of).  But the dessert -- date pudding and creme brulee was excellent.  We had a very enjoyable dinner and we walked back to our hotels, he was on the block beside mine.  

A great last touring day in Australia.  See ya later Australia.....

I think he was as pooped from traveling as I .....

cute blue car :)

IN BETWEEN OPPORTUNITIES -- DAY 32

Had to pop up early this morning as I had a 7:00 a.m. appointment at the Sydney Opera House.  (amazingly I did make it there at 6:45 as requested).  Sunrise is just as pretty as sunset from my room:

Our tour guide, Darryl, quickly dragged us up to the Concert Hall (where I had seen the Mahler concert).  The mechs (mechinists) were about to start the breakdown of the set in order to set up for another event.  This place was awesome from the stage.  We could take pictures this time and some came out good and others came out spooky (I think I need to thoroughly clean my lens on my camera when I get home).  

After this quick trip we went back to the sitting area to finish our breakfast orders.  On this tour were two ladies from San Jose -- Kathleen and Phyllis; Samantha from Melbourne; Richard from Hong Kong (he had left his family at the hotel); and Jayne and her doctor hubby from Lincolnshire, UK.  It was a nice group and we took turns taking pictures and winding our way through the maze of the Opera House.   Darryl said there were between 900-1000 rooms.  (Can you imagine what a massive place to have to take care of?) 

Darryl then wound our way around the underbelly -- the docking area for big semis (they can fit 2 underneath at one time).  They had everything stored around there -- carpets (to put up in the Concert Hall when the Foo Fighters came), trunks for Madama Butterfly  (the ballet version), sets for other events, and even the disco ball from last night was already underneath there.  We couldn’t take pictures in a lot of places. 

We were underneath the Opera Stage (where I would see the Ballet later tonight).  It had the stage that descended and lifted to the basement.  Up on the stage you could see the audience was very close to the stage.  They were individually checking the seats to make sure there were no mishaps for tonight.  The stage side areas were very tight, he said you could tell it was designed so long ago.  No where for the dancers to stop their leaps practically.  They have to stop on a dime when getting off the stage.  

In the orchestra pit, it was very cramped but set up well.  We were allowed to “conduct” with a wand and everything for pictures.  The instruments were all out for tonight’s performance.  

Next we went to the Studio Theater that I had been in last night.  The mech was an expert at the duct tape.  The entire cabaret setup has been changed to a stadium seating arrangement for the next performance.  

The catwalk in the Drama Theater was very standard and high up. 

We got to see the primo dressing room -- the room long windows had a view of the Harbour Bridge.  (There was a grand piano and dressing room too.)  We got to eat breakfast in the Green Room (just like we were workers there). 

After the hike through the Opera House, I strolled around the beautiful Botanical Gardens and up to McQuarie’s Chair (which is a rock and lookout over the harbor).  While up there I saw Chinese protestors who were pestering the Chinese tourist buses (there were about 5 buses).  

Got to see the National Art Gallery -- they had some nice European paintings and sculptures.  I didn’t care too much for the modern art they had in there but it was interesting.  They had the Archibald Prize Winners which were portraits and they were amazing.  

one of my favorite pictures I have taken

Following the road had some interesting sites -- see they use duct tape down here too -- good on ya mate:

I ended up at Hyde Park and the Barracks Museum which had a good exhibit on Convict Sydney.  It was such an amazingly restored building and had rats preserved from the plague (gross).  

Didn’t know Australia was once known as New Holland.

In Hyde Park on the way to the Australian Museum, a man was walking and I thought he was talking on his cell phone.  Guess he wasn’t, he stuck his tongue out at me, like a kid?  What’s up with that?  

The public workers here wear very bright fluorescent jackets.  I met one in the park, because they were moving a small house in for an event.  As in the US he was in no great hurry and just enjoying the day. 

At the Australian Museum, had an interesting encounter with guy at the front desk - he admired my ring, hum?  Nice guy.  Grabbed lunch at their counter -- tuna salad and fruit cup (expensive fruit).  The museum was in an old building that had been modified and expanded.  The oldest case they had held a stuffed croc and many stuffed snakes -- gross.  Excellent exhibits on the Aussie birds, sea animals/fish, backyard pests/neighbors, dinosaurs and an Aborigine exhibit with history and present state.  Check out this interesting creature -- a bilby I think.

See our warning of Cassowaries -- bad natured-- let's follow them through the bush eh?

I strolled down Elizabeth Street  to David Jones (their Neiman Marcus).  Luckily after checking out the place I couldn’t find anything I wanted.  They did have an interesting cosmetic counter with a full on sink and apparatus. 

Went upstairs to the Sydney City Tower.  The elevator up was enclosed (good thing), but extremely small and shaped like a piece of pie.  At the top it was a great view overlooking the city and the harbor.  I had been in many round towers before --- Seattle Needle, Auckland Tower, and Reunion Tower -- this one was OK with the things on top but the Auckland one had a cool see through floor.  You could pay extra to go out on the ledge here but I chose not to do that.  

Escaped the maze of stores in the Westfield Shopping Center (looked very nice but just too much for me).  Went back to the room to change for the Ballet.

Interesting sites along the way -- the first baggy britches -- 

Stopped at City Extra right on the Circular Quay for dinner -- lasagna (actually the best I have had here).  Nice decorations.

Full moon out tonight over the water ---

Had great seat in the Opera Hall of the Sydney Opera House for the Australian Ballet’s production of British Liasons.  As a treat, I had great seatmates -- a mother/daughter pair -- Dorothy and Lindy.  Ms. Dorothy reminded me of my grandmother - she was a hoot.  I learned quite a bit from them.  Lindy had previously worked in the Opera House in PR and they were subscribers to the Ballet. (She is a consultant and told me she was presently in between opportunities :)  -- gotta love that expression -- aren’t we all “in between opportunities.  Gotta keep our options open.)  They gave me tips on what to see and do for my last day in Sydney and explained a lot about the ballet.  Also they pointed out that right in front of us was the director David McAllister.   Guess we had good seats, eh?

It was a trio of three ballets they performed.  The first was called Checkmate and was set up like a Chessboard, they had a very experienced dancer -Colin Peasley.  It was an old ballet and it was a chess war with the black queen triumphing over the red king :)  The music was beautiful and the striking red and then black and white costumes were amazing.  It was what I expected a ballet to be like.  

The next ballet was  After the Rain, and it was very modernish.  Nothing about it was traditional.  The music reminded me of a clock ticking in places and the ballerinas didn’t always keep their feet pointed -- they were flat sometimes.  The last dance was beautiful, it was like a courtship.   It was very piano based and they had fewer musicians in the orchestra pit. 

The last ballet was Concerto and was originally set up in the 1960’s.  The costumes were traditional -- ie they had flowy skirts, and the music was brilliant.   They leapt across the stage in parades almost.  The male costumes were also the bright colors but they had “sock feet” like horses do.  Very interesting.  It was a bright end to a lovely evening.

Afterwards they had a Q&A session.  Lindy, Dorothy and I stayed and moved to the front.  McAllister, the conductor, and two ballerinas came out and talked and answered questions.  It was very informational and interesting.  Most of the questions were of the normal kind, then all of a sudden an Aussie asked “So are there any backstage romances?” What? Isn’t that a little personal to ask in a crowd of people to someone you don’t even know?  (This happened on the Manly ferry too a lady sat by Paivi and I and asked what I thought were very personal questions, strange)

Had a scenic walk back to my hotel along the Quay.  It’s so pretty out here at night and it actually seemed like it warmed up a little.  

In the room, Balls of Steel Australia was on.  It’s a weird type talk show with guys doing stupid things -- reminded me of Jackass.  I guess guys are the same everywhere pretty much. Yes, it seems so reasonable to go to a beach and yell “Shark” just to see the guys scurry out of the water....  This could be in California or Florida.  Let’s hope it doesn’t jump the Pacific.  

Looking forward to an early morning Harbor Bridge Climb (very nervous about this and don’t know if I will have the guts to do it) and a last day in Sydney/Australia.