Checking in from down under

I took the train to Sydney during the week and walked the Royal Botanical Gardens.  I've walked them before and still haven't seen it all.  ****atoos are wild here and I saw 13 of them in and under a tree in the gardens while I was there, of course I didn't have the camera.  I got a little red but not sun burned like I did the first week we were here.  I am still peeling from that, my poor sheltered, milky, minnesota skin.   We might go to the Blue Mountains this weekend, not sure yet.  Last weekend going to Coogee Beach was the first time I've been in a car since arriving from the airport.  We are getting a little rain here tonight, very welcome by the locals.  The function we attended was alot of fun, everyone was dressed up so it was like Halloween for us.  We didn't know about it in time to dress up so we were one of the 5% in street clothes.   Okay here are your tid bits: They don't have ground meat, it's minced beef, etc. They have Kelloggs cereals but some names have been changed, instead of Rice Crispies it's Rice Bubbles yet Fruit Loops are Fruit Loops. They have major problems with health care here.  Also about 37% of their income goes to the mortgage.  The face wash I buy our daughter is about $6.00 at Target in the US, it's $13.95 here.  They have stores like ours but different names.  Yet I have found a Target and a K-Mart!  Of all our stores to cross the pond it had to be them?   I looked for a cheap pair of shorts at the Target store and $39.99 was the best I could do so I passed.  I still walk everyday just further some days than others.  I have had no luck at finding sugar free stuff, just low fat.  McDonald's is sometimes called Mc Cafe, and Burger King is Hungry Jacks. They also have Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut and the killer Colonal aka KFC.   Take care! 

 

Hi Doodle!  Sounds like you are having a great time.  I'm Randall.  Have you moved there or are you just visiting?  I have always wanted to travel to Australia.  Sounds like the prices are WOW!  Have a great day.  It is raining here in Alabama this morning too.   Be blessed!

We are here on an extended business trip, I don't know how people afford to live here.  I wouldn't mind giving it a try some day though.

I just love your posts of travels -- very educational and I love the stories !!!!  No cars???  WOW -- we can only wish that in the U.S. -- we definitely need better transportation options here to get polution under control and the dependence on oil down.  What the hell -- that should really screw up the economy we've all grown so used to!!! We miss and envy you !!!  We are headed for a cold weekend with a warm up to 40 on Monday.  We'll toast you at Eagan coffee tomorrow!!!  Have a coffee on the balcony for me!!!

XXOO

I miss you guys too!  I think of you every time I go to Starbucks and see all the seating they have upstairs that we don't have at any of our Starbucks in the US.  There is plenty of traffic but ALOT of people walk, take the train, bus or taxi here.  Hubby drives here but I won't try it! I even walk to the store, impulse shopping is really curbed when you see the prices and know you have to carry whatever you buy home.  I always carry a mini backpack, I put a few things in that and carry the rest by hand.  It's only about 1/4 mile one way, I have plenty of energy since Starbucks is at the mall entrance and the food stores are in the mall.  I'll have to write down the mall hours, everything here closes up when the sun goes down.  I know for a fact it closes at 5:30pm on FRIDAY! 

"Rice Bubbles"      Keep 'em coming, Gwen!!!

Hey Girl!  Glad to see your post!  Was wondering what happened to ya!  Keep up the tidbits!  Love reading them!  HUGS

Glad to hear you're having a great time Gwen!!!  Any more construction hotties near the Starbucks???  Next time make sure to bring your camera!