sydney

Sydney, NSW, Australia

A nervous tension filled my body as my plane touched down in Sydney. It was a good flight and smooth landing but this land of Australia.... my place over the rainbow was a land of dreams and new things to see and to experience in my holiday. I stood waiting patiently for my luggage to appear on the revolving luggage belt... watching and waiting for suitcases that were missing in action. Looking around with a quivering lip I asked for what my next step would be in recovering my luggage, knowing my tight schedule we had set up I knew that this was a bad thing. I truly felt like Dorothy with only the dress I was wearing as I started my adventure in the land of Oz. Explaining my situation to Brian it didn't take him long to set a new plan into motion and make arrangements to take me shopping, already the trip was looking up!

After a quick drive through tour a promise was made to show me the details of the city another time but for now we should shop. We parked at the Queen Elizabeth Building and walked to a bank to exchange my American dollars for Australian ones. As my purse was now full of colourful money in varying size I was ready to shop. Brian knew I wanted an Acubra to wear so naturally that was our first stop. The variety was astounding as I looked at all the hats, trying on a few styles, the clerk was very helpful finally we all agreed the Coober Pedy was the best choice for me. Next item needed were sheepskin boots, I lived in these when I returned to Ohio... they kept my toes toasty warm on our bitter cold nights as I went back and forth to work. One last item was a wallet to carry my new money in *sigh*... I found a kangaroo zipper one I loved.

The Queen Elizabeth Building was lovely sandstone building with stained glass windows. The building was art with huge twin staircases that I think I had a tendency to want to use the up for down as a pattern of familiaity and while I don't think I'd get a ticket I was going to have to get use to traffic flow opposite of how I would normally proceed.

My next shopping trip took me to Bankstown after we found that my luggage was still missing. I needed to freshen up! I loved the David Jones store, it was wonderful, well made items and affordable. I could get use to this, but Brian couldn't... for some reason Brian hates shopping.

There were so many shopping places in Sydney as we walked the streets my eyes were everywhere. But I knew that I was going to be visiting many places on my holiday and wanted to make purchases at many locations. During one of my visits to the city we went to Centrepoint. This is where they have many floors of stores and then the ride to the top of the needle you see cast as shadow in the above picture. It was from this location I was able to take all the aerial shots of Sydney. I was able to get the harbour, buildings, parks and endless buildings and houses. I walked the circle facing out the windows and taking photograghs from each direction of the point. The view was breathtaking as I spotted the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in the photo to the left the tall buildings did their best to block my view..

As I looked to the horizon and saw the houses blending into the sky I was so amazed. Until seeing Sydney from this view it was hard to comprehend the actual size of the city. Sydney was definately one of the biggest cities I think I will ever be in. Betty and Wilma of the Flinstones had taught me well in the finer art of shopping, Dorothy taught me to appreciate the people around me as they are and Brian taught me to organise and pack light. I was becoming a complete person bit by bit.

This much I knew for certain, I would never be clicking my heels as I never wanted to go home from here. Unless home being where the heart is would land me back in Oz.