Sunday 30^th March
Carol under the weather so I took a trip to the library for some Internet access and blog update then we had supper at the Thai Fusion in Kirribilli.

Monday 31^st March
Carol still under the weather, but it was such a beautiful day so Ira and I took a repeat trip up to the “The Heads” where Sydney Harbour meets the ocean.

We met Anne at the Customs House in Sydney which acts as Sydney’s main library and has a couple of neat features like a scale model of the city under a glass floor

and a Perspex model of the Opera House that was used to design the heating and cooling

Couldn’t visit Sydney without seeing the Opera House up close.

There was some sort of event going on with a stream of people climbing the steps and entering between rows of flag-waiving school kids

to the accompaniment of a band with didgeridoos.

The building is very impressive when you walk around (inside visits require a paid guided tour) and the surprising thing is that the outer surface is covered in tiles

Last chance for a sizzling hot pot meal at Dixon Court.

Anybody who opened up a restaurant doing this in a North American city would make a killing.

Tuesday 1^st April
Our rail passes had expired so I had to walk (alone – Carol still not wanting to go out) to North Sydne

y for a last swordfish and chips meal and on the way my camera died. Ah well! At least it waited until the end of the trip. Last coffee at Gloria Jean’s and home for an early night.

Wednesday 2^nd April
It was our last day, the morning of which we spent packing our many bags ready of the next day. We met Ira and Anne for a lunch at the Kirribilli Malay restaurant where we had the fist meal when we arrived. Then back to the room to finalize the packing.

Thursday 3^rd April
Our shuttle was booked for 11 so after a leisurely breakfast and final goodbyes we headed to Sydney airport and the long (very long) flight back to Saint John via Los Angeles, Vancouver and Montreal.

Thursday 4th April
Crossing the International Date Line sends you back into yesterday, so although it's the next day for us, its still Thursday 4th and after 18 hours of travel we're sitting here in the Air Canada lounge in L.A. Airport waiting for our flight to Vancouver. Well the Internet and booze are free, pity we're so tired we can't think.

Friday 5th April
Back in Canada, NB to be precise, after 39 brutal hours of travel. Note to self and anyone else contemplating a trip downunder, do not go via the US.

It's all over now, nothing left but over 4,000 photos and movie clips and the memories.

Conclusion of downunder travels: