CHATTANOOGY!!!!

So I have just had the pleasure of spending the last five days in Chattanooga,TN.

"Surely you must be joking you say!"

No. For serious. And don't call me Shirley.

I was pleasantly surprised with this little southern town. People are unbelievable here. It's easy to make a friend anywhere. I've been called honey, sweetie and baby more times than I can count. And not in a sketchy way- in a sweet, "Oh it's like you're my mom, but Southern" way.

I explored the choo-choo. It was cool. The Chattanoogans basically took the old train and made it into a boutique hotel. The train cars, the dining cars, the station- it's all there, just stationary. Pretty cool.

I went to the movies twice, I saw two films I was nervous I'd miss being abroad all summer. They made me smile. And cry. And smile. "One Day", an adaption of a book I really enjoyed- and "Crazy Stupid Love"- which was just cute. I recommend both.

I went into a cave and saw an underground waterfall. It was spellbinding.

I drove to Atlanta, and I saw two of the greatest people I know. And ate some damn good pizza. Mission accomplished.

Canberra

When I first arrived in Canberra, I was underwhelmed. All any local in Sydney had to say about the capital city was that it was cold. After arriving at my hotel in the rain, Canberra very quickly looked to me like the Kendall Square of Australia. Government buildings. Office buildings. Restaurants open from 9-5. Everything closed on Sunday. A mall. I felt pretty lonely pretty damn fast.

The first day, I went for a walk and didn't discover much of anything, besides the grocery store. The second day my co-worker and I went for a walk. We ran into a youth hostel to ask what there was to do. We discovered that there was a market every Sunday at the old bus depot. We went. It was....pretty good! We drank Sangria. It was delicious.

That night, we found a local via couchsurfing. He took us out for Thai food. (Australians LOVE thai food). We had good conversation. We made friends with the table next to us. It was a jolly good time- things were looking up. He told us about a couple of events happening this week, one a concert I'm going to tonight.

After 1 and a half days of work, I had a half day. I explored. It was fantastic. The sun was out. The air was brisk. I went to a local cafe that boasted the best coffee in Canberra- and it was the best I'd had in a long time. I also treated myself to an Australian "Lamington". The girls at the cafe recommended it. It's a sponge cake dipped it chocolate and rolled in coconut. Deeee licious.

I strolled. I discovered funky bookshops. I bought my fill of cheap Aussie souvenirs for friends and family. Then I went to the Australian National Museum. I encountered a lot of magic birds (see below) on the walk by the lake there. The museum was great. Really. I haven't learned so much at a museum in a long time. Did you know that there used to be a fence running the entire continent that was built to keep rabbits out of Western Australia? There was. I saw a platypus- dead this time. I learned about the Aboriginal traditions. I went to a rotating movie theater. It was really nice.

So Canberra, it looks like you're more than meets the eye. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you. I guess once I realized you're a quiet, relaxed, small city, there was so much more of you to see.

BEACH!

Bronte beach. Training buddy and I reunited with a trip to the beach!

This was a beautiful place. There was an ocean water infinity pool. A public ocean water infinity pool. Big waves. Open air. Clear water. Ahh.

SYDNEY!

Where have you been all my life?

Beautiful city. Straight up.

After hiking adventures, we awoke early to explore the city. First stop : Pancakes on the Rocks, per suggestion of my dear friend Alaine. Delicioso. I had pancakes with grilled pineapple, ice cream and a strawberry daquiri- what a breakfast! After that, it was a stroll around the Rocks. Very cool neighborhood. There was an Aroma Festival happening. Chocolate, tea and coffee as far as the eye could see. What a dream. Then...to the Opera!

Yup, this building is just as unbelievable as everyone says it is. Breathtaking. I contemplated using my student id to get in to see a show- but, ran out of time.

Then, an expedition to the Taronga Zoo! My co-worker had made a new friend, that we all quickly became friends with too. He's a zookeeper. We got into the zoo, for free (booyah), and then fed giraffes.

Wow. They are tall.

Then.... I SAW A PLATYPUS!!!! VICTORY!

My list of to do in Australia is just about complete. But more adventures await....

Katooooooomba!!!!

So. Here we are.

Yesterday we rallied. We woke up. We drove to the Blue Mountains. And we hiked to an amazing waterfall. Who's we? Me and all of the other yoyo ladies staying here in Sydney. Gee, it's nice to not be alone! Check out the video. Check out the falls. The valley. The pictures don't quite do it justice. Wow.

After our hike we got burgers and shakes. And we bought liquor. I found black vodka. A thing I have been searching for since I left Spain four years ago. Vodka negra y fanta limon, here I come! Friday night, we went out with a local, who a yo lady knows through a life swap deal through a friend. He was the greatest, and his friends were wonderful. We had such a good time. I don't want to go back to work tomorrow!

Sunrise and Wallabys.

So earlier this week, I journeyed 3 hours into the Blue Mountains to visit a couple of schools. I left my hotel/apartment at 4:30am.

4:30 am you say?! That's ridiculous! Well, yeah, a little. But with the jetlag, it didn't feel ridiculous. It was 2:30pm Boston time. But I made a discovery on my drive.

The sunrise is the perfect time to discover a place.

I drove into the mountains at the sun was rising. The air was pink. The mountains were purple and blue. There was a mist all around settling into the valley. I pulled over on the side of the road to take it all in, and a heard of wild kangaroos bounced out of the fog and into the woods. It was one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen. I was more than happy to be up before sunrise.

On the way home from the mountains that afternoon, I stopped at the Jenolan Caves. They weren't too far off of the Great Western Highway. I hiked through the caverns, through the Nettle Cave and the Devil's Carriage out to the woods on the other side. While walking along the trail, I saw a little hopper out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and looked for a moment, and snapped a photo. I thought it was a wallaby, or a kangaroo. He looked like this:

I hiked on, past the river and a pond.

Yeah, the water was really that blue.

On the way back to my car, I stopped by the ranger station to show them my picture of the hopper, to ask what it was. They got excited. It was the rarest type of Wallaby. They asked me to email it to them. I felt pretty cool, to say the least. Australia is a magical place.

DOWN UNDAH

I'm in Australia!!! Woooo!

So far, I've been working most of the time. Very busy days. The schools here are lovely though, and the people are so nice. Nearly everyone I have met has been great. When they are driving...they are a little more like Bostonians- but in person very nice. The kids are sweet. The shows go well and they think I'm hilarious. Win win.

After work yesterday I stopped in on a wild life park. I saw signs on the side of the road, and I followed them. It was magical. I fed kangaroos. A mom roo hopped up to me and a baby popped out of her pouch. I was the only person in the park. It was so cool. I saw kookaburras. Emus. Dingos. Peacocks. Red Pandas. KOALAS! It was awesome. I love following random signs I see on the side of the road.

Having such luck with the first sign I saw, I decided to follow the second. To the Royal National Park. It was beautiful. Just as the sun began to set I pulled up along the side of a cliff dropping into the ocean, and then through a jungle. The jungle went on forever.

I've spent this afternoon researching what to do with the rest of my time here. I will see a platypus. I will go hiking. And I'll do all of the touristy things in Sydney. Hot Dog!! Will write again soon. xoxo