Sydney Sitting Pretty

Sydney is a really pretty place, filled with really pretty people. We had a really pretty time.

Sydney Harbor, from Circular Quay station.

Ed breaks down the meaning of Australian traffic signs. This one is "Moonwalk while crossing street."

"Stretch before getting on buses."

A Taiwanese guy named Roger took this for us. We love you, Roger. More than you know.

Queen Victoria Building.

Darling Harbor.

Foggy day in Katoomba.

This looks like one of those cheesy calendar pictures.

Bondi Beach.

14 hour flight. Same ocean.

Oh, indeed.

Central Coast Livin' Be The Shit To Me!

After landing in Australia, Roy and I immediately hopped on a train headed for the Central Coast, a region north of Sydney consisting of a vibrant network of towns and smaller urban areas. We were specifically headed for Wamberal, a colorful beachside community right next to the popular beach town of Terrigal, to visit our friend Alicia. We only stayed one night before heading back down to Sydney to meet up Ed and Casey, who flew in a couple days after us, but it was enough time to fall in love a bit with the place, and wish we had stayed longer. I'm a sucker for small, quaint seaside towns. I will live in a place like this someday.

Central station, in Sydney.

Some locals -- college kids, I would guess -- playing a game to kill time. Reminds me of when we used to play games like Ninja.

Alicia's porch in Wamberal. I miss porches. I need a porch.

Same porch, the next morning.

Brekkie, as the Aussies say, with Alicia's friend Sarah, who was game to hang with us despite a wicked hangover.

Terrigal beach.

The Skillion, a promontory that looks over Terrigal and the neighboring towns on the Central Coast.

Climbing the Skillion.

The rocks below.

Afternoon tea with Alicia's very nice and very generous family.

Alicia's little sister Holly tries to teach us how to ride her rip board. Despite her best efforts, it doesn't go so well.

Her mother Sherry and stepfather Paul keep the most wonderfully cluttered garage.

Plus, this beast lives in there. A classic Holden, which is a company that started out making saddles in the 1800s before expanding to automobiles in the 20th century. General Motors would buy the company in the 1930s.

I expect to see these tracks again someday.

Gracious host.