Sydney and the Blue Mountains

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Hello From Australia!!! What a time we are having. We spent Christmas with Jacob, Pauline and her sister Marion. It was about 80 degrees and sunny. We are surrounded by trees at our apartment. Christmas morning we were awakened by the most amazing chorus of birds. One is a large raven sized black bird that sounds like a person laughing. Haw, Haw, Haw!!! It is not a Kukaburra like we hoped. There are parrots of all colors perched and flying about. It is fantastic!

Boxing Day is December 26th. Boxing day is set aside for everyone to help the needy. It seemed more like a national holiday for everyone to be out and about. We all took the train into Sydney. Wow, what a day. It was once again very warm. We started on a bus, then a train. Then we all, Gramma included, walked for over an hour. We wandered through Darling Harbor. This is like a miniature Disneyland, minus rides. Lots of food, an aquarium, the harbor. It was madness. But all worthwhile once we got on the ferry and saw the Opera House. We ate supper gazing at the Opera house and the famous bridge, which I can not remember the name of at this moment.

Monday the 27th found us in a rented car and on our way to the Blue Mountains. It was a magnificent place. Rainforest, rock features and birds galore. It was rainy and cool the first two days, we needed a fire at our house. The last two days were sunny and very warm. Richard and I hiked into the canyon on the Great Staircase. 900 steps down, over 1200 back up, wonderful flat areas in between.

Yesterday, we drove to Manly Beach with Jacob to check out the wedding site and make some arrangements. As you can see from the photos it is beautiful.

All is going well. Our warmest day so far has been 38 degrees. Not Fahrenheit!! Gramma is adjusting to the heat the best. She is doing well with all the walking and traveling. She is enjoying all the new sights.

The wedding is in two days, and the normal excitement is mounting. all will work out, as it always does. I will send photos as soon as I can. I think I am the photographer for the wedding, but I will not think about that today.

Cheers!!
Liz

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Photos

Sydney Opera House
My first view. From a ferry boat

Blue Mountains
We rented this place in Leura. Paradise

Three Sisters
Rock formations in Katoomba

Leura
garden at our cottage

manly beach
Wedding site

crocodile tail sandwhich
Tasted like chicken??

Kangaroo
Excellent!