[Previous entry: "Day 1 or Day 3 Depending...."] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Lots of Action!!"]

On the flight Steph and I were exhausted, and although we took advantage of the great food (we'll scan a menu later), we got a lot of sleep. I got to read all of the directions on the new camcorder that my folks got us. I did get some great footage of Steph sleeping, Steph waking up, Steph sleeping, the cabin, and the progress map.

You see every seat has a small 3-inch TV with about 10 channels. My favourite is the MAP. It shows the plane's exact position, course, speed, outside air temperature, distance to and from the destination and times to and from the destination. Very cool.

We got off the flight at 6am, got through Immigration and Customs (the TSA ought to see these people work) and then grabbed a cab to hotel. Of course I was cracking jokes the whole time, but my bride thought the funniest thing was the whole wrong side of the road thing. We checked into the stellar Sydney Harbour Marriott hotel at about 8am (thanks to the Platinum frequent traveller status) and headed down to the lounge for "breaky" (brek-e - Steph is determined to learn some Australian slang). I did get some great video of the room before that though. .

We got upgraded to the Melbourne suite on the 31st floor, with a view of the Harbour Bridge and a hot tub. We got showered and sorted out the electrical items (240 volts with a Revlon hair curler thing needs a transformer, not a plug adapter) and went to the lounge. We ate well, and found out that Steph does not like Vegemite. Vegemite is a rust colour spread made from yeast that is used like jam for toast. I like it of course.

Off we went to see the concierge downstairs and set up the balance of the stay. Today was a Harbour cruise on Captain Cook lines, tomorrow was the big bridge climb, Friday is the wine valley bus tour, and Saturday is the Opera at the famous opera house.

Then off to adventuring, where I learned all of the following - the camcorder is too slow for Steph to take pictures, Steph likes disposable cameras, and that we will always have a disposable camera with us if we are out exploring.

We wandered around the downtown harbour area, and realized that the colour of the business workday here is black. Suits, skirts - all black and sharp. Looks like a fun place to work. We found the internet cafe across the street from the hotel, where I am writing to you right now -and wandered around lost until the cruise.

The cruise was good, we were unprepared of course. I made Steph dress up like a little kid headed out to a snowstorm - jeans, two sweaters. I knew that it was like 19 C outside. It turns out that a.) neither of us can remember the temperature conversion formula and b.) you can still get sunburned at around 70 F.

The formulae are Tc = (5/9)*(Tf-32) and Tf = ((9/5)*Tc)+32

So 19 C is really about 66 F. And that was at 8am.

The cruise was good, a little long for us at 2.5 hours. Sydney harbour has 66 bays, all named after something that happened there. I took a lot of video the harbour entrance - it's very cool to look out to the Pacific Ocean and see nothing for a great distance. The distance between the North Head and the South head is quite substantial though, and I since I'll never have to prove it, I can say that I would have had no trouble finding it from sea.

We headed back and Steph and I agreed to take a brief nap - from 4pm to 5:30pm. When the hotel sent up wine to welcome us and we didn't answer the door, I got the opportunity to show some poor bell hop what a suddenly awakened guy in his tighty-whities looks like when he is not expecting you in his room. Steph had selected chocolate covered something’s and wine for our free gift. The poor guy left and I woke Steph, who said, "I'm not here" and went back to sleep until 11pm. I napped as well, and we got up at 11pm and ate strawberries and the chocolate things. Steph went back to bed, but now it was midnight here, and I just slept for 8 hours, so I am up. So I'm across the street at the cafe. But now I'm going to wander around a little before going back to bed. Sydney reminds me of New York or London - even on a Wednesday night, there is still a buzz and lots to do - even at 1am.

More postings soon - including such hot topics as the currency, why shaving cream costs $8USD a can and other discoveries.

A V&S shout out to the best man - my bro Erich - he handled everything and even got us to the airport on time. No man has a greater brother or friend than I do.

Posted by Online Casino @ 07/22/2005 05:43 PM EST

You can also visit the pages about poker chips poker chips http://poker-chips.lisaandjamie.com/ poker tournament poker tournament http://poker-tournament.lisaandjamie.com/ texas holdem texas holdem http://texas-holdem.pileband.com/ poker strip poker strip http://poker-strip.pileband.com/ online casino poker online casino poker http://online-casino-poker.pileband.com/ free video strip poker free video strip poker http://free-video-strip-poker.lisaandjamie.com/ caribbean poker caribbean poker http://caribbean-poker.lisaandjamie.com/ omaha poker omaha poker http://omaha-poker.fresnay.net/ poker game download poker game download http://poker-game-download.az-greenvalley.com/ celebrity poker celebrity poker http://celebrity-poker.fresnay.net/ texas holdem tips texas holdem tips http://texas-holdem-tips.pileband.com/ online casino poker online casino poker http://online-casino-poker.fresnay.net/ poker games poker games http://poker-games.bentrecords.net/ texas holdem poker game texas holdem poker game http://texas-holdem-poker-game.bentrecords.net/ poker download poker download http://poker-download.bentrecords.net/ free poker free poker http://free-poker.e-poker-winner.com/ free online poker free online poker http://free-online-poker.e-poker-winner.com/ stud poker stud poker http://stud-poker.e-poker-winner.com/ poker game download poker game download http://poker-game-download.e-poker-winner.com/ poker poker http://poker.winning-e-poker.com/ party poker party poker http://party-poker.winning-e-poker.com/ free rules for poker free rules for poker http://free-rules-for-poker.winning-e-poker.com/ play free poker play free poker http://play-free-poker.winning-e-poker.com/ 3 card poker 3 card poker http://3-card-poker.winning-e-poker.com/ free online poker free online poker http://free-online-poker.win-poker-games.com/ poker rule poker rule http://poker-rule.win-poker-games.com/ hold em hold em http://hold-em.win-poker-games.com/ texas hold em poker game texas hold em poker game http://texas-hold-em-poker-game.win-poker-games.com/ 3 card poker 3 card poker http://3-card-poker.play-e-poker.com/ yahoo poker yahoo poker http://yahoo-poker.play-e-poker.com/ - Tons of interesdting stuff!!!

Posted by official poker rules @ 05/28/2005 11:59 AM EST

Please check out the sites in the field of online poker online poker http://www.williamchibbard.com/online-poker.html texas hold em texas hold em http://www.texas-hold-em-world.com/texas-hold-em.html online poker online poker http://www.texas-hold-em-world.com/online-poker.html texas hold em texas hold em http://www.e-online-poker-777.com/texas-hold-em.html online poker online poker http://www.e-online-poker-777.com/online-poker.html ... Thanks!!!

Posted by online poker @ 05/26/2005 01:18 AM EST

Please visit the pages about party poker party poker http://www.shivapage.com/party-poker.html - Tons of interesdting stuff!!!

Posted by party poker @ 05/13/2005 07:22 PM EST

Thanks for the tips, Melinda-- we picked up a schedule for the Manly ferry and hope to head out there. Also already saw the bats yesterday in the botanical gardens! EEK! They are about the scariest flying things ever. We're off to the Hunter Valley wine tour today.

Posted by Steph @ 09/04/2003 05:37 PM EST

Vince and Steph: forgot to recommend to you lunch in Manly Beach. Yes, Bondi is the famous one, but I don't see you two hangin' ten with the sharks. Manly is like the Bay Head of Sydney: the summer beach town that the city folk can escape to. It's a short ferry ride from circular quay, and you can have lunch there on the harbour, and do some shopping on the promenade. As I recall, to the left after you get off the ferry in Manly is a long dock that runs along the beach with a restaurant at its terminus. We never made it to the restaurant, but if you walk down that dock at around sunset, you will be treated to -in the trees above your head- the squaking and flapping of the largest bats you will have ever seen in your life. I'm talking bats with three-foot wing-spans. I kid you not. These humongous, freakish bats are fruit bats, and supposedly they won't hurt a fly (they're vegetarians, thus the "fruit bat" moniker) but let me tell you, when one swoops down from a tree in front of you it's enough to warrant a change of the ol' skivvies. But fruit bats excepted, Manly is a cute little town with lots of great little restaurants on the promenade, and shopping, and obviously the harbour and ocean. And the view of the harbour on the return boat ride is awesome. I think you can also get the super-quick hydrofoils to/from Manly, which are really fun and fast.

Anyway, if I think of any more Australia tourism tips, I'll let you know. Oh, one food thought: if you haven't tried kangaroo, do! "Roo Rump" as it's often called, is delicious! Yes, yes, yes, Skippy the kangaroo and all that dreck.... cows have pretty brown eyes too, but it doesn't stop me from chowing down on a good steak. Have fun, drink lots of shiraz, and enjoy

Posted by Melinda @ 09/03/2003 12:40 PM EST