My friends Sarah and Britt helped me out and put music on my iPod (since my computer crashed and I have no more tunes). It has been fun listening because I have no idea what songs are on there (I have a ghetto iPod that doesn't show song titles). When I first sat down on my flight and pressed play, a familiar voice came through - Bob Dylan singing 'The times they are a-changing'. Thought that was extremely fitting for my current situation...
Before I actually start 'bloggin' about my adventures, I must say a few things. I look at this whole experience not as scary or intimidating, but as the best opportunity I have had so far in life. Who really gets to take a five month long vacation?? I mean, seriously!? And just travel around the world, meet people, learn about new cultures and about themselves! It's kind of a joke that I am able to do this! I shouldn't say that because I am so grateful that I am here. I plan on taking it all in and making the most of this situation. (I'll give a shout out to my parents here -- I AM able to do this trip because they have taught me how to be open minded, carefree and strong. Plus, Nanners let me stay in the basement so I could save all of my money!! Thanks Mom!)
Now on to real bloggin....
It's currently 4am Sunday morning in Sydney Australia... My body seems to think it is 10am on Saturday morning in Seattle. I was lucky enough to stay in a hotel my first night on my travels so I'm using the FREE internet to update everyone.
I've made it safely, obviously. The plane ride wasn't too terrible. I was the first one to my row and unfortunately got the window seat... As each person walked slowly toward me, I was crossing my fingers and hoping that no one would sit next to me. Right at the end of everyone herding in like cattle, a nice lady sat down in the aisle seat, made a joke about how we should both pray that no one will follow her and sit in the center seat between us. I knew right then that I liked her! And to our benefit no one did come sit next to us!! My new friend Kathy and I chatted away for a couple hours until my 2 Tylenol PM's kicked in and I crashed for about 8 of the 14 hour flight! Kathy was on her way to visit her daughter (get this), Molly, in Sydney! Could it be foreshadowing to what my Mom will be doing down the road????
After the flight, I successfully made my way into Sydney without any issues at all! I got off the train and started to search for my hotel. I was trying my best to not look like a completely idiotic tourist, but I think the look gave me away:
22 lbs in the big bag on my back!!
I didn't want to pull the map out, stand on a street corner looking like a lost puppy, so I kept walking and around the corner I go, when my saviour appears!! No, Susie not a tall dark Italian man, but STARBUCKS! Ah, a little taste of home and a delicious coffee waiting for me. I saunter in, chat with the Barista's and make my way to a corner table to pull out all the brochures, maps, coupons, etc that I have collected since the airport.
As I'm reading through all my material, I hear a man behind me order his coffee and say 'It's in my blood, I'm from Seattle'. *Head turns to face him* And even more to my surprise, he's wearing a Seahawks jacket!!! Love this guy. He and his wife walk toward me so I start chatting with them and they give me a few pointers about the city... overall though, I'm really happy to see that us Seattle-ites are branching out of our comfort zones while we are out around the world....
I figure out where my hotel is, finish my iced Americano and walk the 3 blocks to get there. I'm feeling doubtful that I'll get my room, considering it is 9am, so I'm a bit early for check in. To my surprise, they have a room and it's fine that I go check in to it!! I organize a bit and then head out to wonder around the town for the day.
Later in the afternoon, I was sitting at a bench looking at this view:
When a 70 year old man from Greece approached me. (Envision a man that is 5'5'', white haired, tanned skin, big round glasses that make his eyes slightly larger, wearing khakis and a blue blazer.) He said "Why you beautiful woman all alone?" I looked up toward him, smiled, shrugged and said 'Just traveling'. He looked at me curiously stepped a bit closer and said "You have heart of steel, very brave woman." As he made a fist and touched it to his chest. I scooted over on my bench and patted the seat next to me. He obliged and sat down. We chatted here for a few minutes, right before it started to pour down rain!!! He looked over at me and said "Would you like to continue talking? We can go to Art Museum." I thought to myself, I've got nothing else going on... plus, talking to a guy like this is pretty entertaining anyway! We walked around the Museum of Contemporary Art, and shared life stories more than compared our thoughts on the artwork. Well, he did most of the talking and gave me LOTS of advice on how to live -- such as, marry as late in life as you can, around 50 or 60. And I said George, but what about having kids? And he said 'Oh yes, well if you want children then you must marry younger'. He also told me that experience is the best way to gain knowledge and you can never know enough and you never will know it all. After our afternoon, I asked to take a picture with my new friend George, and really wish I had so you could see how cute this guy was... but I think it was lost in translation and he thought I was making fun of him. The day was dying down, he said he needed to get back to his wife and I figured I could go back to my room to plan some more adventures. Overall, it was an amazing day and precisely the reason I love to travel!!
Will see what other new friends I will make....
