Good Evening.
Had a good day with Marcea. She's really similar to my friend Wendy Elliott from Keene, NH. She looks like my sister Franny and Wendy, so I feel in warm and loving company around her. We stopped at a cool touristy town called Leura-- quite lovely, really (splendid, mind you). Then, into Katoomba, the more laid-back mountain town where groovy hippies live on the dole and hike the mountains.
The Blue Mountains range is similar to the Grand Canyon-- I think I mentioned that. But, it is covered in trees, too. Husband Mark says the blue is due to the Eucalyptus trees casting their light into the atmosphere-- gives off a blueish hue (for you non-jews, "blueish" means kind of blue.
Blue. Due. Hue. Jew. That was kind of annoying. And two "kind ofs." So, Blue Due Hue Jew Sue me. It's a Blog, not the New Yorker.
Heading out to the Blue Mountains finally felt a bit like the trip I have imagined. As in, I was seeing the country, the different terrain, beyond Sydney's buildings and museums and statues-- cities could place me anywhere, you know? But, it's the land that determines the place.
I love driving and riding--- just watching the terrain. It's relaxing, like a movie show. And, the trees are so different. That's the coolest part-- the different flora and fauna. A simple walk down the street is like walking in a parallel universe. People speak English but in a weird accent and with weird phrases. People drive, but on the other side of the road. People are English and American, but they're not. There are birds and bugs and trees, but they're all different! Even the grass is different! It's been cloudy since I arrived, but there is a spot of sky tonight, so I'm planning to look at stars. I haven't seen one yet, and I can't wait to get confused, acclimating to the constellations. Gonna find me a Southern Cross.
That's part of the chronic allure of Australia: the backwardsness of it all. Like falling down the rabbit hole or slipping into a different dimension. Familiar, yet different in a safe way-- like taking hundreds of small risks-- tiptoeing out of my comfort zone all day. It's delightful.
Not like stepping off the plane in Thailand or Bali. I don't know. I think, for me, that would be too overwhelming. I couldn't even begin to be delighted by it all, because I'd be so incapacitated with newness. Australia is a wonderful way to keep one foot on solid ground, and one foot in weird muck. I like it.
Like the language. It's kind of a different language, but with a much smaller learning curve. It's just such a safe way to challenge oneself. It feels much more like Play than Costa Rica was.
Safety Sam. Jews in the Wilderness. What can I say: I'm not Evil F***iing Kneivel, even if I did drop my drawers and hurl myself across the world. I like a little Comfort Zone with my Crazy, thank you very much.
Remember to say Happy Birthday to Marcia Fagelson on Monday the 25th. I love you, Momest! Great to hear your voices today. Love you, Daddio.
Tomorrow I'm back in the Blue Mountains for an Eco-Tour with Tread Lightly. Then, back to Sydney for Sorry Day, Paddington Markets, a visit with another random connection-- Trish Amichi, of Gallery Amichi (Aboriginal Art)-- and dinner with my Australearn crew.
Then on Friday..... off to the Great Barrier Reef!
Had a good day with Marcea. She's really similar to my friend Wendy Elliott from Keene, NH. She looks like my sister Franny and Wendy, so I feel in warm and loving company around her. We stopped at a cool touristy town called Leura-- quite lovely, really (splendid, mind you). Then, into Katoomba, the more laid-back mountain town where groovy hippies live on the dole and hike the mountains.
The Blue Mountains range is similar to the Grand Canyon-- I think I mentioned that. But, it is covered in trees, too. Husband Mark says the blue is due to the Eucalyptus trees casting their light into the atmosphere-- gives off a blueish hue (for you non-jews, "blueish" means kind of blue.
Blue. Due. Hue. Jew. That was kind of annoying. And two "kind ofs." So, Blue Due Hue Jew Sue me. It's a Blog, not the New Yorker.
Heading out to the Blue Mountains finally felt a bit like the trip I have imagined. As in, I was seeing the country, the different terrain, beyond Sydney's buildings and museums and statues-- cities could place me anywhere, you know? But, it's the land that determines the place.
I love driving and riding--- just watching the terrain. It's relaxing, like a movie show. And, the trees are so different. That's the coolest part-- the different flora and fauna. A simple walk down the street is like walking in a parallel universe. People speak English but in a weird accent and with weird phrases. People drive, but on the other side of the road. People are English and American, but they're not. There are birds and bugs and trees, but they're all different! Even the grass is different! It's been cloudy since I arrived, but there is a spot of sky tonight, so I'm planning to look at stars. I haven't seen one yet, and I can't wait to get confused, acclimating to the constellations. Gonna find me a Southern Cross.
That's part of the chronic allure of Australia: the backwardsness of it all. Like falling down the rabbit hole or slipping into a different dimension. Familiar, yet different in a safe way-- like taking hundreds of small risks-- tiptoeing out of my comfort zone all day. It's delightful.
Not like stepping off the plane in Thailand or Bali. I don't know. I think, for me, that would be too overwhelming. I couldn't even begin to be delighted by it all, because I'd be so incapacitated with newness. Australia is a wonderful way to keep one foot on solid ground, and one foot in weird muck. I like it.
Like the language. It's kind of a different language, but with a much smaller learning curve. It's just such a safe way to challenge oneself. It feels much more like Play than Costa Rica was.
Safety Sam. Jews in the Wilderness. What can I say: I'm not Evil F***iing Kneivel, even if I did drop my drawers and hurl myself across the world. I like a little Comfort Zone with my Crazy, thank you very much.
Remember to say Happy Birthday to Marcia Fagelson on Monday the 25th. I love you, Momest! Great to hear your voices today. Love you, Daddio.
Tomorrow I'm back in the Blue Mountains for an Eco-Tour with Tread Lightly. Then, back to Sydney for Sorry Day, Paddington Markets, a visit with another random connection-- Trish Amichi, of Gallery Amichi (Aboriginal Art)-- and dinner with my Australearn crew.
Then on Friday..... off to the Great Barrier Reef!
Leave a comment