Our last day of vacation ... just a few hours to pack our things, check out of our lovely hotel, and dash off to the Sydney Botanical Gardens. Even though we only had about 2 1/2 hours before we had to be back for our cab to the airport, we used the time wisely. We did a very quick tour of the Botanical Gardens. We saw lots of flying foxes in trees, and signs saying that these were now being "discouraged" as they are ruining the trees. Well, to hell with the trees, I say. We saw an unusual art exhibit (flowers and mosses growing out of strangely shaped chemistry beakers), briefly went to the multi-leveled glass hothouse with the rainforest exhibit, admired the plantings, then zipped back to some trinket shops to pick up some souvenirs, then to the "Rocks" area of downtown Sydney where I bought some gorgeous scarves, and we went to a lovely farmer's market and tasted humus, cheese, olive oil and tapioca (which was delicious, and we bought some). Poor Rachel was still suffering from a nasty bout of heartburn, but she persevered quietly.
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| Rachel and Kris in the indoor conservatory (rainforest plants) in the Sydney Botanical Gardens. |
Then it was back to the cab, take stock of the luggage to make sure it was all accounted for, and off the airport. A brilliant but all-too-short visit to a lovely city!
We did meet a few Aussies who inquired about our travels, and when we told them we'd been to PNG, their response was uniform: "And you survived?"
As I'm heading out of Sydney, I spot a "Pandora" store, and on whim I decide to buy 3 of their charm bracelets: one for me, and one each for Juliet and Bella. Of course, mine features animals: hedgehog, elephant and requisite kangaroo, along with a tiny silver be-stickered suitcase. Rachel and I make it to the gate for last call of boarding, and settle in. I feel bad that I made us late with my purchases; Rachel is not able to stow her things above her seat as it's full. Even worse, which is just bad luck, she's squashed into an interior seat in the middle of the plane, between a grumpy old man and a man who is paralyzed from the waist down, and his legs are partially in her seat's leg area. As her long legs never seem to have enough room on cramped airline seating, and it's a long flight, this is bad news. She makes it to SFO in one piece, and somehow retains her good humor despite the unpleasantness. Go Rachel!
We exit the plane, right about on time, in California, gather luggage and clear Customs. It's time to say a sad farewell now - we hug outside of Customs, and in a blink, she's gone.
I hurry out to find Peter, who's been waiting for me for an hour, at the exit. Big hug! I'm so glad to see him and his easy smile, his kind face. It's very, very, very good to be home.
As I'm heading out of Sydney, I spot a "Pandora" store, and on whim I decide to buy 3 of their charm bracelets: one for me, and one each for Juliet and Bella. Of course, mine features animals: hedgehog, elephant and requisite kangaroo, along with a tiny silver be-stickered suitcase. Rachel and I make it to the gate for last call of boarding, and settle in. I feel bad that I made us late with my purchases; Rachel is not able to stow her things above her seat as it's full. Even worse, which is just bad luck, she's squashed into an interior seat in the middle of the plane, between a grumpy old man and a man who is paralyzed from the waist down, and his legs are partially in her seat's leg area. As her long legs never seem to have enough room on cramped airline seating, and it's a long flight, this is bad news. She makes it to SFO in one piece, and somehow retains her good humor despite the unpleasantness. Go Rachel!
We exit the plane, right about on time, in California, gather luggage and clear Customs. It's time to say a sad farewell now - we hug outside of Customs, and in a blink, she's gone.
I hurry out to find Peter, who's been waiting for me for an hour, at the exit. Big hug! I'm so glad to see him and his easy smile, his kind face. It's very, very, very good to be home.
An epilogue, of sorts:
I must point out that, despite going to one of the most corrupt, violent, crime ridden countries I've ever been to (Papua New Guinea), absolutely nothing, not so much as a stick of gum, was stolen from any of our rooms or our bags, and nothing was nicked in transit. I need to report, however, that my new Reef flip-flops (the kind with the beer-bottle opener built into the bottom, nothing but the classiest footwear for me) were stolen out of my luggage en route from Sydney to San Francisco. They were there at the Four Seasons, and gone when I got home. Someone may have stolen them. Or, I stupidly left them on the floor of the hotel.
We wonder what has become of the characters we've met along the road: Rita, Grace, Caleb, Chris, Virginia and many others. And what about that exasperating birder? Rachel muses that had he been along on our raskol adventure, things might have turned out differently. For the better? (He might have annoyed them to death) or for the worse? (he might have annoyed us to death).
Not willing to have this blog end with the word "death", let us end on a positive note, shall we? Violins up... let's hear an "A"....
I must point out that, despite going to one of the most corrupt, violent, crime ridden countries I've ever been to (Papua New Guinea), absolutely nothing, not so much as a stick of gum, was stolen from any of our rooms or our bags, and nothing was nicked in transit. I need to report, however, that my new Reef flip-flops (the kind with the beer-bottle opener built into the bottom, nothing but the classiest footwear for me) were stolen out of my luggage en route from Sydney to San Francisco. They were there at the Four Seasons, and gone when I got home. Someone may have stolen them. Or, I stupidly left them on the floor of the hotel.
We wonder what has become of the characters we've met along the road: Rita, Grace, Caleb, Chris, Virginia and many others. And what about that exasperating birder? Rachel muses that had he been along on our raskol adventure, things might have turned out differently. For the better? (He might have annoyed them to death) or for the worse? (he might have annoyed us to death).
Not willing to have this blog end with the word "death", let us end on a positive note, shall we? Violins up... let's hear an "A"....
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