Australia Day - Jan 26th

Australia Day is similar to the American's Fourth of July. It celebrates the day that Captain James Cook landed on the Australian shores - January 26th 1788. Australian's celebrate Australia Day with a public holiday, BBQs, live music, boat races on Sydney Harbour and fireworks in Darling Harbour. A wonderful day all around. The sky was a bit grey, but it was a warm day even if it doesn't look it.

Mike & I went down to McMahons Point to take the ferry across to Circular Quay to meet friends. There are people everywhere on the grass and boat madness on the harbour!


The lady next to us explained that it was the Ferry Race -- all of the harbour ferries are decorated and race each other. First ferry to cross under the Harbour Bridge wins!


At Circular Quay - 500,000 Sydneysiders out to enjoy the day.


10 stages in the Rocks playing all types of music all day. This is the Microwave Jennies.



We met up with Biliana & Olivia in The Rocks.


And husbands Duska & Adrian.


And Biliana's boys were the highlight of my day. They sang Australia is my Home and looked so cute and patriotic that people gave them money for busking! Good job Taylin & Peyton.


Another stage in the Rocks Market.


And the main stage was on a barge in the water.


More of a folk stage in the Strongbow Orchard on Circular Quay.


The Australian is a happening bar today.


Just look at all the people!


We walked home from The Rocks over the Harbour Bridge during the Tall Ships Race.

Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Beach is one of Sydney's Northern Beaches and probably our local beach. Its got a great swimming area netted off to keep the fish and sharks out, and we especially like it because you can jump off the pier and then get the ladder out and not get all sandy.





And our favorite place to hang out is on this island in the shade of a tree. Once on the island you can see all the sail boats, wind surfers and out towards the North Head and the open sea beyond the harbour.

Troy & Gene Visit

Hurray! We have our very first visitors! Its Gene & Troy - friends from Colorado who we haven't seen since BEFORE we moved to England. They were on big trip to Brisbane, Sydney & Tokyo and luckily we were on the intinerary. I'm thinking we may get to see more people passing through Sydney than we did living in Birmingham, England...

First stop on our tour of our city- take the ferry under the Harbour Bridge to Circular Quay and the Opera House followed by some Thai food in The Rocks.


Checking out the bars on Oxford Street


Dinner in Newtown at our favorite Thai restaurant in Sydney. And Gene's trying the fruity cocktails.


And some final shots on our balcony before the boys head to the airport.

Sydney Festival

Most of January is the Sydney Festival which means lots of cultural events going on in Sydney including free stuff like live music. We're taking the ferry over to Circular Quay to check it out.



Lavendar Bay





As part of the festival, they put pianos all over the city for people to play. We stopped off at Sydney Hospital to check out one of the pianos. Too bad none of us could play!



So instead we had a sweet break at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe with Olivia & Adrian.

Christchurch, NZ - Jan 5th

Christchurch - back to the big city for an early morning flight back to NZ. Its warm and sunny on the East side of the island. Christchurch has a very English feel to it - very Cambridge-like with a university and you can punt the river. The happening area of town is Cathedral Square.






I love these buildings... its Canterbury University.



And tasting all the beers at Dux de Lux - a Christchurch & Queenstown brewery.




My favorite kiwis are everywhere!


Back in Sydney...