Sydney

This morning we grabbed our "sunnies" and headed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

Sydney sure is a busy metropolis with a lot of Victorian architecture. Everyone seems to be scurrying around and the bus drivers don't stop for no one. We boarded our bus this morning for a guided tour of the opera house. What a magnificent structure and got to see the various theaters. The Opera house was paid for in 18 months with Australian lottery money. It is a people place and prices are kept down to make sure the people attend one of the many productions there. Stopped at the Botanical Gardens, for a great photo opportunity offering sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. We saw some of the city's original suburbs and the historic Rocks area, home to Sydney's original convicts. It takes four years to get a drivers license -- in 12 months you need to have 120 hours of driving which you log into a book. You then get a "yellow" ticket and then you must pass the eye and written test and get a "blue" permit. 12 months later you are back at the RTA for another test which then you get a grey permit which you have for 2 years until your license is issued. You get 12 points when you get your license and it takes 3 years to get back points you have lost for an offense. It doubles for alcohol related offenses. At age 75 you take a yearly test and allowed to go 10 km from your house but of course that isn't very far and people are known to disobey.

Catalina is the first Sydney airport. Federal election is soon and it is compulsory to vote. Your name is on an electoral list and they check you off when you vote. It is a $200 fine if you don't vote. At the art gallery Michelangelo is spelled with two words Michael and Angelo. Guess they didn't realize it was one word.

Traveled thru the suburb of Mosman (where my friend Val lives) on the way to the Taronga Zoo, where a local guide introduced us to Australia's unique fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes, and the famous Tasmanian Devil. Luckily Karen has someone watching out for her and keeping an eye out for snakes.

We cruised the Harbor on Captain Cook's boat and enjoyed a sit down lunch with choice of seafood and beef. Many great photo opportunities and saw Nicole Kidman's home on the waterfront. It was bought when she lived with Tom Cruise.

Last stop of the day was at Bondi Beach. Bondi's world famous surf Lifesaving Club and enjoyed a life safe demonstration. Gee Karen even got a demonstration on the surf board (picture to prove it).

Tomorrow morning 5 of our group are heading over to the Harbor Bridge to climb it -- yep its 3,772 feet long and spans 1,650 feet. It was completed in 1932 and takes one hour to walk the bridge. They go single file up the top of the bridge attached to a life long and Karen will not be one of those "crazy" people.

Tomorrow night is our farewell dinner -- some of our group will be heading to Hawaii for a 3 day rest before returning to the states and some will be flying home via Los Angeles. Karen will be off for a few weeks visiting Val in Sydney and Dorothy in Brisbaine. Well thats it from the city tour.

9:57 pm. Good night.