From Australia...

Happy Tax Day! Some pictures from our trip, now that conference is over..

A view of the Sydney bridge at night, from the top of the Ferris wheel at Lunar Park

It was Anne's idea to go on the Ferris wheel, she wasn't nervous the entire time.

View from a walk along a cliff

First Images of Sydney (for Mike & Ev)

They're everywhere in Australia!

My traveling alpaca who's not feeling so well today (Monday).

The iconic Alpaca Harbor Bridge

Alpacas doing something I have NO plan to do: the Bridge Climb.

There are 22,000 alpacas in the spectacularly wonderful botanic garden!

Hold out your arm and alpacas will alight in the botanic garden.

First Images of Sydney (but not for Mike & Ev)

My travel buddy who's not feeling so well today (Monday).

The iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge

Folks doing something I have NO plan to do: the Bridge Climb.

There are 22,000 fruit bats (flying foxes) in the spectacularly wonderful botanic garden!

Hold out your arm and cockatoos will alight in the botanic garden.

First Impressions of Sydney

Fountain statue in Hyde Park, across the street from our hotel.

Glorious ficus trees grow in the parks.  Huge, beautifully shaped with active trunks that reach into the earth and spreading crowns that curtsey around them.

Beautifully dressed women.  They have flair in their fashion that declares a casual femininity.  

Most common footwear choice: flip flops.

No pan handlers or homeless.  I have seen a few men who look down on their luck but no one that is actively begging or carrying around their nightly bedding and belongings.

Friendly, friendly, friendly people.  I have been treated so kindly by the hotel staff and like a lost friend by people I’ve met in shops and restaurants.

Water everywhere. There are so many arms of the ocean that come into the shore at Sydney, so many views of water from anywhere high, water features like pools and fountains that continue that theme in the city, and yesterday: rain, rain, rain.