Merry Christmas from Sydney...

I've been in Australia for two months and I've finally found my way to Sydney. And it is definitely a very cool city. So how do you spend your first day in such an iconic city? I'll tell you.

You arrive at 1:00 in the afternoon and you source food right away as the bus ride from Port Macquarie started at 5:20am. From there...you find an Irish Pub to allow yourself some time to organize what you want to do and see in Sydney. It's pretty overwhelming. Unfortunately, when this course of action is taken...you may find yourself falling under the spell of international relations when you meet some boys from Ireland and Scotland. I'm proud to say that we sent one Scottish boy home at 6:30 so that he could get sick. And then a first happens...I get cut off at the bar at 10:30pm. Crazy!! However, when I asked why she was cutting me off...the bartender said..."you don't look drunk...you don't sound drunk...but you must be drunk because I know how much I served you!!" I'll take that as a compliment. It was a worthy drinking session with straight shots of whiskey, Red Bull and Vodkas and $7.00 pitchers of beer. And the even bigger compliment came the next day when the Scottish boy (who did last all session) said it was the first time he had been out drank by anyone other than a fellow Scots man. Notch another one up for the Embro Boys!!

Day two actually had me up at 8:00am (no hangover again...I love life!!) I found my way to the Sydney Aquarium which is one of the coolest places I've ever been. I could have stayed there all day. Unfortunately, I found out that my camera is CRAP and most of the pictures I took didn't turn out because it was too dark for my camera. (once again...insert four letter words here) I've seen some amazing sites here in Australia, but the Aquarium rates in the top 5 to date. You have to see it!!

Even though Sydney is a pretty big city (over 5 million) it still has a laid back atmosphere. Besides "G'Day Mate"... "No worries" is the second favourite phrase of the Aussies and Sydney is no different. I can't believe that phrase pacifies so many situations that could easily escalate. In Toronto...there would be fist-a-cuffs.

I actually expected to be "let down" by Sydney as so many people had built it up in my mind. However, it's even more awesome than I could have hoped for. I've walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge; I've partied in King's Cross; I've been up close to the Opera House and so much more. I went to the "Rocks" district today which is a fairly high end neighbourhood to buy you all a Christmas gift, but I couldn't decide between Gucci or Dolce Gabbana so I went and had a beer instead. I'm sure your response will be "No worries mate!"

I have two more days in Sydney before I fly to Perth for the holidays. I can't wait to get back to Sydney in Febraury to see the Blue Mountains; Manly beach and Bondi beach.

I want to wish each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and wonderous holiday season.

My next blog will be coming in the New Year as I'm sure you're all too busy to read my blog...or you should be!!

Happy New Year!!! My thoughts are with you all!!