Home.

The long long trip home wasn't nearly as painful as anticipated thanks to in-seat TVs, a great-sleeping toddler, OK-sleeping adults, and having been away long enough to be excited to get home.

Our first day back was like Christmas for Addi, rediscovering all of her toys. It was nothing short of heaven for a homebody who left home for 108 days because he loves his wife. And it was a task-master's dream with stacks of mail to sort through, services to reinstate and suitcases to be unpacked. Everything seems fresh and new and we are all experiencing home through new (and improved) lenses.

I didn't feel it happening while on Adventure, but I am a more relaxed, more balanced, happier person...a little bit more able to enjoy the moment. I hope I can hold on to this newly discovered piece of me while enjoying this transition period and once engaged in a new job!

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Manly

We spent our last day at Manly beach. It was windy, but perfect weather for playing in the sand and wandering through beach front shops. Jim and Addi took a dip, but I chose to watch from the sand. We ate some world famous fish n chips, said goodbye to Australia, and savored the final hours of our amazing adventure.

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Sydney is Super

The truth is that we did not want to come to Sydney. We tried to cancel this last leg to spend more time is SE Asia but could not pull it off. So, we came prepared for a very expensive not very good time.

Boy were we wrong! (about the 'not very good time' part...we were right about the 'very expensive' part) We L-O-V-E Sydney! Perhaps we like it because we have been out of the 'western' world for so long, but I think we like it because it is beautiful and easy to navigate. Either way, it ties our favorite cities list (with Bangkok).

Yesterday we meandered through Darling Harbor. The bay is clean and clear, pedestrian traffic only, and lined with open air cafes, fountains, parks and gardens. We went to the Sydney Aquarium which was huge and amazing with some of the most active sea life we have ever seen! (Note for Greg: they have a huge Lego model of Moby Dick). We saw platypus, manatee (or what the Aussies call dugongs), sharks, all of the fish we have been snorkeling with, and a crazy active octopus.

Today we went to see the Sydney Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, Circular Quay, the Rocks (the 'old' town) and Pitt Street (Sydney's 5th Avenue equivalent). These attractions are all close together so we were able to wander somewhat aimlessly and still find our way to each. There was a strong autumn breeze blowing off the water at the opera house and at one point Addi lifted up her shirt, stood in the wind, and shouted "I just love this!". Ah, we have unleashed a free spirit. Gulp. We took a short cruise of the harbor, watched some good street performers and stopped at a few waterside restaurants for snacks and drinks. The weather was perfect and we came home (to cook our money saver ramen dinner) feeling happy and relaxed.

Tomorrow we head to Manly Beach for our final day on this adventure.

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