The Sydney Aquarium

Today Lorelei and Hans took me and the kids (felt like a baby duck!!) to the Sydney Aquarium. It was really fun. They met a friend for lunch while I wandered down to a sushi place on the Rocks and then to Starbucks for coffee (if you build it, they will come...what can I say?) We took the ferry from Circular Quay to Darling Harbor and went to the Aquarium. It was good fun. I love animals and all that - I have to see the zoo before I leave Sydney. I took a few PICTURES, somewhat randomly, of crocodiles, fairy penguins, and seals.

My driving tour of South Australia is coming up here rapidly. I'm actually REALLY excited to just go drive around. There is something fun about just driving around the countryside and taking it all in. That is how I've grown to see the United States. I have seen a lot of it through the windshield and I rather like it. You feel the rhythm of a place when you travel by car - plane is so impersonal. Rail is somewhat better but you aren't engaged - it's passive. You sit back and the country slides by. In a car, you are engaged at least to the point where you have to avoid obstacles. You can stop at your leisure and wander around wherever you happen to be at the time, exploring at whim. You aren't confined to schedules - with the exception of finding hotels & open petrol stations. So, I'm looking forward to my journey - a chance to see places you don't reach by rail, air, and bus. I think I may have to do that in Europe while I'm living in Austria. Just so that I can see the world.

I told mom & dad to go ahead and give my uncle the green light to look for a car for me...it's been so long since I've had to pay for something like that. I would really like to pay for it in full in one full swoop. No car payment, just having to pay for my car insurance, petrol & repairs. I really don't want a big car payment, but I do want a Volvo. It will be an older used Volvo, but that is what I want. Someday when I'm making the big bucks, I can buy a shiny new one. This will do for now.

I don't know if I'm taking my computer with me to Melbourne. It seems like too much of a risk, it would be easier to just leave it here where it is less likely to be stolen. Thus, I may well just update when I get back and put all my pictures up there.