Oz Day is Red, Mountains are Blue...

Australia Day kicked off watching the boat race with vessels of all shapes and sizes adorned in patriotic flags, chugging and sailing through the harbour. The day was then spent with live music, buzzing crowds, the return of the childhood wonder of TRANSFERS and an incredible fireworks display accompanied by fountains, fire and lasers. The best bit was a a police re-enactment of a high speed boat chase with helicopters, police dogs, speed boats and scuba divers to save the day!

Today we have returned from the Blue Mountains where we have been intrepid explorers trekking through the rainforest. I don't know what I expected but it certainly wasn't the babbling brooks at our feet and huge orange rocks carving the sky above us. Bright green vegetation and waterfalls filled the landscape as we clambered on to rocks and up logged stairways for hours trying not to get too snap-happy, as every corner you turned could be another picture postcard view!

With kooky staff, a reading room by the fire, shelves of books and friendly dorm mates, it occurred to me that we were not staying in a hostel but, in fact, at HOGWARTS!

Snow Spray and Sunshine

We have had a wonderful Aussie Christmas! Up early on the roof terrace to open parcels from home and then aprons on for baking shortbread and chocolate cake for our hosts. We were invited to a friend's family home for Christmas Day as they invite all the backpackers over every year so that they can be with a family of sorts in absence of their own. Turkey was on the barbie, the bath was full of beers and an Australian flag waved proudly on the roof. The day was completed by Skyping home to a screen of six squeezed in, grinning faces- aprons on, pets held up to say 'hello', and a rendition of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' from my wonderful family.
On New Year's Eve we headed down to friend's house by the harbour and joined a buzzing crowd down by the water's edge. The sun set over the Harbour Bridge as a plane was writing in the sky and the city lit up, reflecting colours across the water as night fell. As for the fireworks, I had an immovable stupid grin on my face for the entire dazzling 12 minutes along with the other 1.5 million people along the harbour. The absolute highlight was when fountains of light erupted from the rooves of the skyscrapers in the city shooting straight upwards like bursts of glittering water.

One gloriously sunny day brought an adventure to a packed Manly Beach via ferry, and another, a kids style birthday BBQ - party hats, bouncy castle and all. I must mention here our delight in discovering the Aussie delicacy that is Fairy Bread. Bread. Butter. Hundreds and Thousands. Why someone hadn't thought of it before I have no idea.

Last night was spent celebrating the opening night of Sydney Festival with thousands of others in the city centre. Roads were closed, flags were flying, there were musicians in the bus stops and people dancing in the street. A big, red double-decker bus pumped out feel-good music all night and the evening was topped off by an incredible aerial piece of street theatre. Magic.