G'day!

Handsome devil that...
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Man, was today the best day so far or what?

Started out well, giving that I woke up with a slight hangover. My two roomies (Josh and Joe) are both from California, and about 24. We went out for a few drinks last night, culminating in drinks in 360, the revolving bar/restaurant on top of Sydney Tower, some 300 metres high! I had my first cocktail, which was interesting and pricy - $19.50!!!!

Anyway, today. Went to the Opera House on one of their guided tours. I have to admit, I didn't spend as much time listening to our guide as I should've done, which is a shame because what I did listen to was really interesting. No, the reason I didn't was because I spent it exchanging looks with a girl - I know, I know, terrible of me. They have a strict rule in the Opera House - if people are on stage, no photos. Still, they weren't, so I've got at least one for you guys over there, plus a really nice on of the outside from just below the main area  - I do love that picture.

After I was done there, found I had an hour to kill, so wandered into the Royal Botanical Gardens. They are massive, and you could probably wander around for days and still not see everything. They encourage you to go almost anywhere, which I like, and it's like an oasis in the middle of the busy city, nice when it all seems to be too much.

Anyway, all of this was merely killing time until the crowning goal of today, and perhaps the trip - Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge! You have no idea how cool this was - it takes 3 1/2 hours to complete, which is about 1/2 of orientation, and then 3 hours climbing or so. I couldn't take my own camera up, but I was able to buy a few photos on CD that they took of us, and thus I can show you. That said, I don't think I'm going to be winning any style awards anytime soon with that outfit. When you're 183 metres above the water, looking down at it, and then looking around at the view that you can see, you don't care how you look. The uniform is designed to hide you actually - according to our Climb Leader, drivers here are bad enough without being distracted by brightly garbed people clambering all over the Harbour bridge.

Easily the most harrowing thing was climbing the ladders. They take you up a total of 25 metres, and it's split into 4 sections. Now, that might now sound too bad, but bear in mind, you climb up between two lands of the road, and then back down through the two rail lines. Nothing I can write down will emphasis how scary this was, but there you go - it was still great fun. And people from all over - in my group alone we had 4 Australians, 2 Belgians, a German couple, a mother-son pair from New York, a Scot and myself, the only English guy. Diverse group, and all really interesting people in their own right. Still, have formed a friendship of sorts with Joe and Josh. Joe seems insistent he will break me out of my pessimism with regard to girls before he leaves tomorrow - I, on the other hand, am not so forward thinking, but kudos to him for trying.

Last of the postcards were also sent today, so expect them in six to eight weeks, lol.

Talk soon.