Fantastic review - makes me want to visit this place one day!

There are two more museums but there is an admission fee to both. One is in College Street and has all things animal in it and the other is the Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour which has all things mechanical.

Glad you enjoyed Sydney - sorry about the cost! Come back again when your dollar is stronger. The first time I went to the USA, I only got 60c to your dollar, so I know what pain is!

Lee

WOW Andi...you are such a great writer, you always make us feel like we're right there with you be it Australia, South Africa, Europe or on ship excursions anywhere in the world. Thanks for such good reporting.

I just got my Hyatt visa card today so need to run out and buy something... quick !

Lee, you gave me such a good laugh! :hyper:

Great reporting Andi as usual. Cannot believe how expensive the zoo entry and the ferries are now. The days of value down under have been erodng over the last 10 years. I can remember coming down here and everything was so reasonable.

New Zealand has been becoming more expensive with each trip too. I often wonder how the locals make it they are paying higher prices and in the past their salaries were less than USA salaries as well.

USA is the land of plenty. Little things like refills on soft drinks, all the ketchup you want issues like this in restaurants even make a difference. In New Zealand as long as I can remember each "tiny" package of ketchup cost and I remember Ken's surprise when he took a handfull and I told him what he was paying for each package.

The first day in Melbourne was very overcast and basically drizzled all afternoon finally clearing up later in the evening.

We did a tour yesterday out via some local suburbs to a forested mountain area. Some great overview spots of Melbourne and the harbor below and a visit to a tiny village with some unique shops. Last stop we saw some native lcoal birds who do like to land on your head. Cockatoos and small colorful parrots and a kookaburra in a tree were great to see. This was in a picnic stop area and I am sure the birds are used to getting "snacks" along with the human visitors. If you want birds all over you get a little bird feed in your hand and your wish will come true. Just as we were about to leave it started to rain. Don and Carolyn were on the same tour so we enjoyed having them along. We were really hungry by the time we got back and I ate too much.

We had the pleasure of Fred and Pat's company for dinner last night. Regent had a special aquarium event and we have been to the Melbourne aquarium and Fred and Pat were not that interested so we stayed on board and we were able to get into Prime 7. I again ate too much it was an alka seltzer before bed last night. Dover sole, crab cakes, crab legs I looked like a fish as I left the restaurant. All was excellent.

Today it is bright and sunny. We slept in today and are going to wander into Melbourne shortly and just enjoy the day.

Thanks everyone for such wonderful seamail. Feel like we are right there.

Andi - Marcie is right, you make it come to life. But Marcie, I remember all your WC reports and again you made it come to life for us at home.

Ngiare - you too make it seem so real, and so glad your luggage arrived just before sailaway.

Betty, Larui, Crystal and Beth - have so enjoyed all your posts about Sydney and surrounding areas, sounds just amazing.

Keep it coming everyone, lovin' it.

Loving the seamail. Keep it coming.

Just caught up on Seamail. So sorry to have missed this cruise, but we are on a trip we are calling Whine. We are absolutely not whining that we missed Dingo. This is our very favorite trip of all - up the California Coast, via Big Sur and north to Mendocino and Napa. We HAVE missed our dear friends. Actually, our ship's captain, is quite handsome - without a kilt. He has commanded our Beemer through the most beautiful California coast, through Carmel and Monterey, up through Wine Country to Mendocino to one of our most favorite places. We didn't do the Bridge Climb, but we did have a picnic on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday. We have Llamas and horses right outside our door at our favorite retreat with an organic garden. The food in Carmel and Monterey is as good as you can get anywhere in the world. We had baby Lambchops (Rack of Lamb) and Abelone at our favorite restaurant called the French Poodle where the chef is Escoffier trained. We went through the California Redwoods and today we went through the little artisan town, learned all about Coffee from the owner of Thanksgiving Coffee Company. We shopped for antique opals, Ugg Boots. We watched Dolphins dancing with Sealions and Pelican's diving for dinner in Monterey Bay. Weather has been amazingly beautiful. Internet too slow to send photos. And we capped our day today in a store called Compass Rose. Really cute little store. We will be dining this weekend in Napa on the Wine Train and have a car and driver reserved for wine tasting on the Silverado Trail this coming weekend. Life is good on land. We are missing our Dingo friends, but we will just get to Australia and New Zealand another time. We opted for the only Med cruise we've missed next year. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Well, Kathy. You must have found the REAL Uggs...the ones made in China and are owned by the american company! I'm sure you ended up paying less than any of the Americans who thought they were getting a deal here!

Andi - I actually didn't buy those uggs...they're too ugly for me but yes, they are the original American Uggs from Ugg Australia that you can buy everywhere. Even Costco has them. Loving your seamail. Got my fingers crossed for the 2010 winner of the free cruise is someone we know and love.

Uggs are worn by my grands - thin calves and slender bodies :rolleyes: :rolleyes: whoops neglected to say they look great except on me!!!

Uggs were originally designed as slippers for wear around the house and that's all we ever used them for until the Americans decided they were a fashion statement. Even now, only the very young (or sloppy)dare to wear them outside.

Lee They do nothing for oldsters like me but Happy Ugging for all - BUT bet they look darn cute on Andi she is an itty bitty

My Andrea, at 5'9", all legs, looks adorable in her tall UGGS. I just secretly thank my lucky stars that they don't come in my width and tell her how cute she looks.

Y'all are making my weekend so much more pleasant!

Ahhh have done so many similar trips to yours Kathy, long time ago back when we still lived in CA, but it was always one of our favorite drives and we love Monterey, Carmel and Napa.

Kathy, your trip sounds wonderful! Hope you will share some of your pics when you get home.