The Trip Home .....

It has been an amazing trip, and we have been gone longer than ever before.  I'm ready to go home but not ready for the trip to end.  Thank goodness I did this blog!  I hope to come back to it and fill in the many missing pieces.  It has been a trip of a lifetime and yet I hope to have many more of these memorable trips ahead.

So our first sold out flight of the six weeks was the BIG one back to Los Angeles. Detour San Francisco ! 

So it turns out we aren't the only Globus folks with flight troubles. The Fiji group of 5 are without seats to Fiji and may spend another night in Sydney!?! Oh dear I'll bet they would like to change their comment cards!

We made it to San Francisco. Loads look heavy so because we want to get home we are jumping the next flight to JFK. Got on but delayed on the runway!

Group Photo on the steps of the Opera House

Last night at an inn. Happens to be a Raddison Inn NYC.  Riding home with Curt!

Well we are home, gone through 2 boxes of mail, on the 3rd load of laundry, a short trip to Stop and Shop for groceries and dead tired. Sipping on a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee so I can stay awake until 9:30 at least.

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like HOME!

Laundry is done! Mail is sorted but not acted on! Had a shower and in my pjs so I'm going to meditate and hopefully fall asleep until the morning! Lots to do tomorrow to be ready for Easter.

After Easter.... Planning begins for the next Travels with the Chadwick's!

Three of the munchkins with Gramps!

Sydney and New South Wales

Gosh where has the time gone?

Landing in Sydney, the last leg of our journey ( that is if you don't count the journey home).

The view of Darling Harbor from our hotel window.  

Took a walk along the harbor and found a pub for dinner. Tomorrow we see the town by bus, and boat.

First glimpse of the opera house. Roof looks white. 

This is the bridge they let you climb for a hefty fee $355. Al, Ron and Betsey were not to keen on it so it will need to stay on my bucket list for next time.

The Opera House roof is made up of these small tiles that were designed to stay clean, and reflect the light in many ways. They say this is why the roof sometimes looks gold, and other times looks white.

Just an amazing design. I would love to hear a concert here.  Another item for the bucket list.

This is concrete. Hard to believe no flaws anywhere. Wish they did my foundation.

The discs rise and lower to capture the sound of the orchestra below. The organ must be amazing.  They said there are only three musicians qualified to play it.

Final day of the trip and we head out to the beautiful Blue Mountains with a first stop at the zoo of Australian animals.

He was the first in line to hold the snake!

One of the many scenic stops along the drive.

Native people used this as a brush.

The Three Sisters

The 3 sisters from Canada and the 2 sisters from USA.

So many beautiful trees, this is just one of them. The blue color of the mountains is due to this tree.

Final stop the botanical gardens.

A champagne toast to a beautiful day.  Technically, a sparkling wine day to a sparkling day. Made from grapes grown in Australia not France.

Alan, can you build me a walk through my garden like this?

These ferns were enormous.

A nice water feature for the garden too. Maybe a smaller version.