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Published: August 16th 2009
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On the day my “petite cousine” Juliette departed Australia to return to France the saying on the calendar in our kitchen was a Gypsy proverb … “We are birds of passage, tomorrow we will be far away” or “Nous sommes des oiseaux de passage, demain nous serons loin”. It seemed it seemed so fitting for the day!
Alternate Realities Lorenza and I were so excited that Juliette was visiting. We did comment that it seemed “odd” because we associate her with our “alternate reality” rather than our “normal reality”. By that I mean that we would normally see Juliette when we are travelling, not here in our home. We also mentioned this to Juliette when she arrived and said she had a similar feeling.
Tenuous Connections When Juliette and I describe ourselves as distant cousins the word “distant” is the operative word. It is lovely that when we are introduced to friends or family that her family describe me as their “petit cousin”. Now, try this for a stretch of the idea of family connections … our true relationship to each other is that my Great Grandfather’s brother married Juliette’s Grand Grandfather’s sister.
Juliette and I
tried to explain this connection to one of our friends when we dropped in for a coffee on our way back from hiking. Our friend was more than a little puzzled. I suggested "Perhaps I could draw a diagram if it helps?"
Six weeks, three nights, two and a half days and some hiking Juliette had been travelling in Australia since late June. In fact she arrived in Sydney at about the same time that Lorenza and I arrived in Paris. In company with her brother, she has circumnavigated our country and now found herself in our “normal reality”.
On Tuesday 11th, we collected Juliette and her rather large backpack from Sydney’s domestic airport then took her on the long drive back to our mountain hideaway. Lorenza had a day off work on the Wednesday and took her walking with our dogs in the bush nearby and then to Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens. That evening my parents joined us for dinner and we had a surprise birthday celebration for Juliette (well her birthday is really the 17th, but we thought it would be nice to celebrate it a few days earlier).
On the Thursday I was
able to get a day off and take Juliette to the “Blue Mountains”. We first visited Wentworth Falls and took the path and stairs down to the falls and back up again. From there we went to Echo Point and took the Giant Stairway down into the Jamison Valley, and walked to the base of the scenic railway which takes you back to the top at Scenic World. From there we took a one way trip on the skyway and the short walk back to the car (after a detour for a beer and a hot chocolate overlooking the valley).
Friday, I had to work, but managed to get off early so I could take Juliette to the airport. I took her via the Harbour Bridge for one last look at Sydney, on what was an absolutely glorious day. At the airport we were joined by my Uncle Max for coffee and a bite to eat. It was the only chance he had to see Juliette, so I it was nice we could wait with her and see her off.
Diplomatic Mission While at the airport we entrusted Juliette with a diplomatic mission on her return to
France. We appointed her as an ambassador to encourage more of her family and friends to visit our shores.
It was lovely to have you visit with us!!!
(PS: Where was Juliette’s brother? He is in New Zealand continuing his travels.)
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