On the other side of the world

Well... not literally, but figuratively. Literally, the other side of the world from home is a few hundred (?) miles off the coast of Perth AU. And I know that because I looked it up when we were there 3 years ago.

But I'm close enough. We're in Melbourne (mel-bin for those in the know). We arrived yesterday after traveling 30 hours from home to airport to airport to bumpy, bumpy ride over the Pacific to the hotel. We walked around the Central Business District, or CBD, and were so amazed at the vitality of the area on a Saturday afternoon. Crowded--and if you neglected the accents, so like America in the products for sale.

How many Starbucks shops does one need in a three block area? Ah... three. None of them having an Australia mug since they're all sold out. I guess the Australian Open did it. SO much for my collection.

Bit of a problem over dinner because the cab driver couldn't find the restaurant and left us at a casino (per our request--get me out of here!) and the casino info desk hadn't heard of it and we had to have some sort of special card--not coins--to use the pay phone and I couldn't make my iPhone call correctly and we took another cab back to our hotel. That cabbie probably thought one of us had lost big at the casino and the other one was thoroughly mad because we didn't say a word. When he offered to take another route around the traffic and I said "as quickly as possible", he had a tale for his wife. Two cab rides, no dinner, and $25 later (AU$ but it's about parity), we were once again at the front desk. Then they told us if the cabbie can't find it, you don't pay him.

We walked to a restaurant.

This morning we start adventure number 2 when we rent a car and try to get out of the city.

Hopefully, I can continue to blog. If can email, I should be able to.

It's gorgeous weather and once again, it just FEELS different. And that's not lack of sleep talking.