WHAT A NIGHT - TWENTY12

the day started very overcast and at 10 am we were off to Gaille and Antony's friends boat that was anchored in the middle of Sydney Harbour facing the bridge and Opera House along with the other 3 to 5 thousand boats in the harbour. Cathy and Graham were the best hosts ever! First they hoisted my Canadian flag (we became known as the boat with the Canadian flag) and then a day of drinking champagne and eating the most amazing appy's including the biggest prawns I have ever seen. As you can see in the photos I wore the appropriate boating shoes. At 2pm the clouds disappeared and the sky was blue -- more eating, drinking and watching aerial acrobatics, sky writing and only one minor incident when the waves from the ferry knocked me off my chair on to my knees and I spilled my champagne!
At 9pm there was an amazing fireworks show - they do this for the children who cannot stay awake until midnight. Then about every hour before midnight they set off some teaser fireworks.
Just before midnight the countdown lighted up on the side of the bridge and then it began -- the most incredible half hour of fireworks I have ever seen. There were six barges placed along the harbour -- each one setting off fireworks in unison. The bridge lit up the sky with color and a spectacular fireworks display and then to top it off a number of the skyscrapers in the city set off firework displays in unison -- it was really hard to know where to look and the display brought tears to my eyes as I checked off one bucket list item! Thank you Gaille, Ants, Cathy and Graham for a spectacular day and thank you Sydney you made one Canadian very happy filled with incredible memories!!!!!

Today I am going back to Marianne and Brian's house on the other side of the city and that will be my base for the next few days until we leave for Perth on January 4th. It is in the mid 20's here (lovely) and Marianne is hosting a bbq for Brian and her niece Jessica's birthdays today -- more partying what shall I do????

Happy New Years Everyone -- remember follow your dreams they can be a good as you imagined!

Australia Day One

great flight on qantas airlines -- best $200 I ever spent as I was put in premium plus on the new air bus plane from LA. After taking some drugs to help me sleep I had a lovely 7 hour sleep as this air craft is sooooo quiet. Air Canada could take some lessons from Qantas staff -- EXCELLENT SERVICE!

Upon arrival at Sydney airport there seem to be no one to meet me. After two hours of dragging my bags around (thank god I packed light) I finally was able to email my friend to find out the person picking me up was apparently at exit B since 9am -- I looked up and there was exit B and my friend's husband -- how we missed each other for two hours is a mystery to me????
Little tour of the city and now in north side of Sydney (went over the Sydney Harbour Bridge -- saw people climbing it but that is not for me, however I plan to walk across it. Tonight had lovely bbq swordfish for dinner yummmy!
Tomorrow we are going out on a boat an will be sailing into Sydney Harbour to bring in the NY and watch the fireworks (one item off the bucket list). I will be waving my Canadian flag proudly at midnight!

Journey begins . . .

Here in LAX waiting to see if I get on one of the three Australia bound flights tonight. Right now they are looking pretty full. I am happy to sit next to the pilot but I think that is against the rules. Hopefully the next thing you hear from me is 'good day mate'. Look for me at Sydney harbor bridge on new years eve. I will be the one waving the Canadian flag!

Chapter One Traveling Shoes!