April 9

Today we started with a new cafe--Coogee Cafe...Next we trecked all over Malabar to try and find horseback riding near the beach via mapquest directions. Complete failure after(departing at 830am) 3.5 hours of buses and walking. Yikes; but saw a large and in charge spider on the route home.

April 8

Today--the usual tea and morning beach date. Weather was great--so we were able to spend some time at the beach.

AND I GOT MORE MAIL! Thanks NINNY and MINDY ( I loved hearing about your trip-TimTams are VERY POPULAR HERE!)

Then in the afternoon we took a bus to Circular Quay and took the Essential Sydney Opera House Tour and followed it with a piece of carrot cake at a nice restaurant on the harbour called EastBank.

http://www.eastbank.com.au/

Then to an evening movie "Date Night".

April 7

Today we tried a new cafe for breakfast--Cafe Congo..we both got the vegetarian breakfast (lots of buttered toast, hashbrowns, baked beans, eggs (mine blended in on the picture-hence the "poach-ness",tomato,spinach, mushrooms) and the usual tea.

I love having my own little model to take pictures of here--dont want Mom to ever leave.

I also received more maillll :) Thanks Jenny and Dad for the Easter card and Mom for the package of yummy bars (Peanut Butter Cookie, Smores, Nutz Over Chocolate), fun crafts, and more surprises! Best family.

Was a rainy day---this week is not letting up with the rain.

Off to an early evening movie-"She's Out of My League".

April 6

Today we snagged tea at the local cafe and sat and chatted in the sun at the beach. I gave Mom a mini tour of UNSW and we ended our day with an ice cream feast at my house. It is quite here.. out of 23 people (the norm), only 3 other study abroad students (all guys) are here for Spring Break and the "caregiver".

Not a bad thing at all.

Thanks Shirl---the kitty looks like Butterscotch did!
Nin nice postcards--I remember them from all my Babson days!!

April 5

Mom and I have been starting our mornings with an early breakfast than a walk around town which usually follows with a mid-morning tea and "big blue" fix at the local Coogee Yerros Cafe.

Then we took a bus to Circular Quay and departed on our 1215pm (3.5hr) Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Incredible Experience.

http://www.bridgeclimb.com/

and re-fueled at Pancakes on The Rocks in the Rocks (note the ice cream on the pancakes!)

April 4

Easter Sunday!

Today we took a bus to Central where we caught a train to Olympic Park, where the Olympics were in 2000, for the Royal Easter Show.

http://www.eastershow.com.au/home.html

Lots of rides (including ones with live animals just hanging out on the side--mini safari), lots of funky foods (fairy floss(aka cotton candy in allll flavors:banana, chocolate, blueberry,bubblegum, etc--Jenn W. u'd be loving this, corn dogs the size of my arms, multi-colored popcorn, hundreds of waffles, and mini baby pancakes, snow cones, chocolate strawberry fondue everywhere, and etc.), also had lots of exhibits showing new products, new crafts, flower shows, etc. They had big horse shows, endangered Australian animals(Bilby), herding sheep dogs, etc.

They also had an American food place and an Arizona Streakhouse Drewbie.

Also we saw a fishing tour boat that looked like a huge coach bus on wheels, yet it was an aquarium with a man finishing out of a boat on top.

Scope out Juli and her large and in charge fish and chips (aka french fries).

The Easter bunny even came to my house for a hunt!

April 3

I took at 630am taxi today to the airport to surprise Mom. I got to walk around and show her all the different places around town and we got caught in a 5minute complete downpour! Then she got to enjoy a Moo Burger with some chips for lunch at my local spot and a fun diet coke glass bottle!

We jumped on a bus to Bondi Junction and scope 1 of the 3 Westfield Mall Buildings.. we saw some interesting chocolate creations(Darovena you'd be loving it)(caterpillers, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge..mice (yikes Aunt Mandy).

Then ended the day with some market shopping (since most places are closed on Sunday for Easter).