First impression of Sydney, everyone is very helpful. When we look lost, someone will offer the right direction, a spare ticket or piece of advice. We have had a warm welcome in Sydney. The city streets look familiar, we keep comparing them to Chicago and San Francisco. Some of the people remind me of Denver- laid back and drunk on sunshine.
My journal is getting narrowed down to bullet points. Here are the top three categories:
What we ate- Lunch yesterday was narrowed down to a Fish and Chips shack. But it wasn't the usual greasy saturated newspaper experience. Rotissarie chicken and Prime rib, Grilled seasonal fish, and salad were alternative options. I ordered the fish and salad combo; Mixed green salad with carrots, peppers and red onion with a lightly battered crispy fillet of Australian Hake served with s&p, lemon. Tarter sauce and Tomato sauce (ketchup) ( extra $0.30au. ) Recycling was encouraged. Shawns burger came complete with pickled beet slices. Fries were sprinkled with chicken salt and regular salt was available on request.
We all must have been craving milk because one trip to the convenience shop returned 3 litres of milk to the room. Our food storage now contains, trail mix, 2 bottles of whiskey, 3 litres of milk, some soda and juice.
Food cost in au $: ribeye in butcher shop $38/ kilo (2.2lb), 1% Milk $5.85/ 2 litre, Bananas $3.99kg (?), Breakfast buffet $21, Hotel burger $19
Interesting Food choices: Black sesame gelato, Coffee shop pastries selection included the usual plus; Passionfruit glazed doughnuts, beef pot pies, huge 5x5 wedges of Banana bread
Gotta go get ready for the next flight, Love you all!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Finally in Sydney...tomorrow Gold Coast
We finally arrived in Sydney around noon local time after our 14 hour flight from LAX was delayed at departure. In Sydney we walked, we rode the subway, and we rode the water ferries where we needed to go. We walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge and on the other side found a place selling fish and chips. It seemed like a good choice in food and it was. I kept the lid to my tartar sauce in hopes of finding a larger bottle of it somewhere down the road!
Lots of school children walking around various parts of town we were in. All in uniform. Many young guys in shirts, ties, and jackets. The girls wore dresses and sometimes hats. Then one group of young fellows was dressed in camo. Quite interesting to see.
Sydney reminds me of a cross between San Fransisco and Chicago. The iconic Harbour bridge mimics the Golden Gate and the shores surrounding the harbor aren't as steep as San Fran's but the climate sure seems similar. We walked for a long time down George street and it's many shops reminded me of Michigan Ave. in Chicago. There were lots and lots of people out and about...business people, school children, tourists. Michigan Ave's horticulture displays are much better in my opinion. Not much for large colorful displays in Sydney...at least where I was.
As I walked along I didn't feel like I was in a foreign country. Sure there were Australian flags flying atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But all the English speakers and familiar shops (Subway, Payless Shoes, Seven Elevens) made it feel like any other big city. But Burger King's aren't Burger King's. They are called Hungry Jack's. Same logo, same menu, different words. My purple Powerade I had assumed was grape. Nope. Black Currant...and quite tasty. Many of the shops don't have doors. It's simply open to the street and you walk right in and right out. Apparently many people don't have air conditioning in their homes because the climate is to moderate all the time.
We hopped the train back across the bridge and made our way to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and made our way to Sydney's most iconic symbol the Opera House. It was finally there when I saw the tile covered roofs that I felt like an out-of-towner. Everyone knows the Sydney Opera House is in Australia...and I was standing next to it in person.
I blogged earlier that this was a Rotary sponsored event. After exiting customs there was a donation charity box sponsored by Rotary. I deposited an American dollar. How fitting that one of the first things we see coming off the plane is the Rotary logo? It was a simple clear container with lots of assorted paper currency and coinage. It's just one small little project sponsored by one club...but thousands of those clubs put together all around the world...THAT makes a big difference.
Good night from Sydney, good morning back in the States.
Nick
Lots of school children walking around various parts of town we were in. All in uniform. Many young guys in shirts, ties, and jackets. The girls wore dresses and sometimes hats. Then one group of young fellows was dressed in camo. Quite interesting to see.
Sydney reminds me of a cross between San Fransisco and Chicago. The iconic Harbour bridge mimics the Golden Gate and the shores surrounding the harbor aren't as steep as San Fran's but the climate sure seems similar. We walked for a long time down George street and it's many shops reminded me of Michigan Ave. in Chicago. There were lots and lots of people out and about...business people, school children, tourists. Michigan Ave's horticulture displays are much better in my opinion. Not much for large colorful displays in Sydney...at least where I was.
As I walked along I didn't feel like I was in a foreign country. Sure there were Australian flags flying atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But all the English speakers and familiar shops (Subway, Payless Shoes, Seven Elevens) made it feel like any other big city. But Burger King's aren't Burger King's. They are called Hungry Jack's. Same logo, same menu, different words. My purple Powerade I had assumed was grape. Nope. Black Currant...and quite tasty. Many of the shops don't have doors. It's simply open to the street and you walk right in and right out. Apparently many people don't have air conditioning in their homes because the climate is to moderate all the time.
We hopped the train back across the bridge and made our way to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and made our way to Sydney's most iconic symbol the Opera House. It was finally there when I saw the tile covered roofs that I felt like an out-of-towner. Everyone knows the Sydney Opera House is in Australia...and I was standing next to it in person.
I blogged earlier that this was a Rotary sponsored event. After exiting customs there was a donation charity box sponsored by Rotary. I deposited an American dollar. How fitting that one of the first things we see coming off the plane is the Rotary logo? It was a simple clear container with lots of assorted paper currency and coinage. It's just one small little project sponsored by one club...but thousands of those clubs put together all around the world...THAT makes a big difference.
Good night from Sydney, good morning back in the States.
Nick
Sydney!!!!
We made it!! We are checked in and enjoying the sights of Sydney. The plane ride was well worth it! It's so beautiful here and the weather is absolutely gorgeous! The team is currently riding a ferry though Sydney harbor watching the sunset. This is the first time we have had wifi since touching down. If this first day is any indication of the journey we are headed on, we are in good shape. We will head back shortly and get some much needed rest. Back to the airport tomorrow for our last plane ride to the Gold Coast. Good night all!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Waiting and waiting some more
I am usually a stickler for punctuation and capitalization but this is coming from my iPhone so forgive the choppiness. We have made it to LA and it is 8:42 pacific time and out flight doesn't leave until 11:50. Then starts the 14.5 hour journey across the pacific ocean.
Our Thursday will be spent entirely in the air and we won't be into Sydney until Friday morning. So the team is all sitting here making phone calls back home before bedtime in the central time zone. I'm sitting here tethered to a wall outlet charging my phone typing this post.
Were in the international terminal at LAX. That is an appropriate abbreviation for this airport. Because once you get past security this is a rather boring place to be. Not very many food vendors, an assorted news kiosk, all very lax. Wall outlets are at a premium. They too are lax.
The lines for security were really long this evening...and all those people have to come to this terminal...but where I'm sitting right now...even the number of people are lax.
I tend not to sleep very well on planes. I hope the lax-ness doesn't carry over to my sleep.
Good night, enjoy your Thursday. I don't think I even get one this week!
Our Thursday will be spent entirely in the air and we won't be into Sydney until Friday morning. So the team is all sitting here making phone calls back home before bedtime in the central time zone. I'm sitting here tethered to a wall outlet charging my phone typing this post.
Were in the international terminal at LAX. That is an appropriate abbreviation for this airport. Because once you get past security this is a rather boring place to be. Not very many food vendors, an assorted news kiosk, all very lax. Wall outlets are at a premium. They too are lax.
The lines for security were really long this evening...and all those people have to come to this terminal...but where I'm sitting right now...even the number of people are lax.
I tend not to sleep very well on planes. I hope the lax-ness doesn't carry over to my sleep.
Good night, enjoy your Thursday. I don't think I even get one this week!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Night before leaving and all through the house
The night before leaving and all through the house, luggage was being packed with nothing left out. The preperation for this trip was a great experience. The Team selection gave me a great feeling that we have the cream of the crop. They have come together and bonded into a strong team. I am proud to be their leader and share this trip with them.
To those still at home, please check in often as we try to keep you posted of our travel and experiences.
Team Leader,
Joe
District 6080
To those still at home, please check in often as we try to keep you posted of our travel and experiences.
Team Leader,
Joe
District 6080
last day
Well bags are packed and we are counting down now. Going to try to get things at home and work finished before we leave.
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