Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 06:06:23 +0000

    As I sit and think what it might be that all of you may want to hear, I realize you may not want to hear any of it, for shear spite and envy!   We arrived here after a long plane ride and could not wipe the stupid grins off of our faces until...we went to get a cab and had 2 cabbies and a vallet guy fighting over us...that really makes you feel special and welcomed.   We got into the cab and were on our way to our hostel that I had booked weeks before, we thought that it was in the "ghetto", but, thats how most of Sydney is.   The old rundown look really grows on you.   The stores on King St. in Newtown off of Syd. don't open until 12 and they close again by 3, or at least thats what it seems like. there are cafes everywhere!!! every other store is a cafe.  

We went on the train today to the opera house- absolutely gorgeous by the way! then we decided to hop the ferry and go to the Toronga zoo. this zoo was so neat.   It's like an island of it's own.   When we got to the zoo we had to take a gondola or "sky safari" up to the top so we could work our way down the maze that they call a zoo.   We got some awesome pics of koala's, wambats, kangaroo's and other interesting creatures.   We decided to stay in this area for another night and go to Kings Cross tomorrow.   From what I hear King's Cross is Shadey and full of prostitutes and strip clubs....but, it's a "must see".   Its really not that hot here yet.   I would say about 20C or so.   It's still better than the negatives that you guys are going to get.   I will try to call around Christmas and give you all the heads up.   But until then, you might get some more of these stupid letters.   I would love to send pics but, we have yet to find a cafe with a card reader.   There is something wrong with my camera, as I have already changed the batteries 3 times....so we are just using one at the moment.   Sydney people are not that friendly.   To prove my point: The first person I talked to here was a waitress in a restaurant who got mad because I asked her what a food was on the menu, the second person I talked to was in a pub.   I gave him 50 to pay for 7.5 and he gave me a 20 and the change back and when I told him that he was wrong he was convinced that I was trying to rip him off until I pulled all of my bills out of my pocket to prove it to him.   But, we are having fun and will keep in contact.

love ya all,
Amber