Cristobal's birthday

In a couple of weeks, my baby will be 39!
Now he lives in Dublin & me in Sydney - only a phone call here & there or a chat in Skype ....
Wishing him the best of the best of luck,

Cumpleaños Feliz,

Te deseamos a tî

Cumpleños felices

Te deseamos a tî

Cristobal de mi corazøn, Olé, Olé, Olé!  

Opera House lighting up

On Monday 13 under a heavy rain, one of my colleagues and best friend friend Lindy and I strolled around Circular Quay. We wanted to watch the lights.

At seven o'clock the Opera House lighted up like a rainbow.

It looked so beautiful that the grey sky shone dripping colourful drops.

Absolutely magic!

As you see Sydney is always fun. FANTASTIC!

Gulgong in Ecurb

Saturday at 6.45 am Bryce & I jumped onto Ecurb & off we left home.
Icy wind in the air and drops of rain hit us all the way till we reach the mountains. Blue Mountains in winter is a postcard of real beauty.
Green, luscious flowers, trees swinging like giants toys.
Magic!

Cold but so lovely that our hearts warmed up quietly & sharply.

Gulgong is a little town near .....

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The Capital Theatre in the middle of city is vibrant - all year around wonderful shows attract Sydneysiders of any kind. Among, last night crowd - Princesa de las Galaxias & me.
All excited we enjoyed Mary Poppins singing along the peculiar songs.

I believe that simple, old fashion way of life is the key to reach peace in the world.

So under a heavy rain Princesa de las Galiaxias & I sang : super cali- fragi listice xpialidocious all the way back home.

Sing & the world will sing with you ;)

With a spoon full of sugar

I feel over the moon and the sun too. My Princesa de las Galaxias and I are going to sing 'With a spoon full of sugar, the medicine goes down ....'
Yes!
I hardly wait to hug her "happy birthday!"

The world is whirling around

As winter is around the corner we are planning a trip to Alice Spring, Uluru, The Olgas, the RED outback in Ecurb - our motorbike!

We have rode Sydney to Melbourne -twice!  Yet I think this time will be a bit tough.

The main thing is that the more I travel the more love to be alive. After all being alive is a surprising gift, ins't it?
And also  I'd discovered that the world is only one magic place.

Be good keep :)

La Perouse - Botany Bay

The night before Mother's Day we went to the Sailing Club in Yarra Bay. It seems to me a secret Sydney spot. For only a bunch of kids & their family enjoy the beach & by night timid people - like us - stroll over the white-white sand & OLE enter the restaurant for a real feast. This time .... Lobster tasting so good that made my palate feel "goose skin":)

Watching the sunset, from the balcony, Botany Bay, Bruce & I celebrated the special occasion. "Your kids are spread around the world, so Texas & Manchitas asked me to take you here!"

Staring at the clear sky I sent a huge hug & a kiss to my Christian, at the moment working in San Francisco, USA; to Rodolfo, living & working in Queenstwon, NZ; to Cristobal living in Dublin ...
And to Carolita .... well, just waiting for tomorrow real real real hug.

Sydney secret spot? Just ask me, OK?

Sydney!

Now we are back to normal yet we go out enjoying our magic country. Australia!

Simple & easy last night we headed to the Opera House. The Australian Ballet & the British Orchestra ...A ballet rehearsal so perfect, so magically done that I felt flying out of space, kissing stars & unknown planets on the way ...

Sydney by night around the Harbour, the majestic Sydney Bridge
Come along for a visit. Australia offers everything from a fine weather to terrific landscape.
Just send us a note & we'll show you the best of the best deals.

HAPPY HOURS = SANTIAGO!

Santiago is amazing - by far the best & most ebullient city of South America.  I truly recommend for its hospitality & excellent service & security & easy going people. The cuisine is exquisite - especially seafood! Langostas, ostras, locos, sierra al horno & Chile wine & beer, the lot!
YUM!

And yes, you could enjoy beers half price & a great show. Happy hours in Santiago by evening 100% GREAT!  

Blotch

Today, Blotch was invited to Angus & Robertson, East Garden to sign his book.

"When you are travelling, a book, a really good book will keep you fit - physically as well as mentally.   Especially mine, woof, woof!"

Check it out: www.blotchthedog.com

REAL PROOF

Surprisingly, our tour guide gave us a bear hug & handed a certificate!

Bruce looked at me, and holding hands we left the Andes behind.

Our trip of a lifetime was about to end with mixed emotions. For in Lima airport, we suffered a horrible encounter with Peruvian Customs Personnel.

On our flight to Santiago I got sick. The tension hit me badly. Thank God, we arrived at Mum's.

Three days later we kissed everybody goodbye & off back HOME!!!

Olivia & Benito

Love is GRAND.

The moment Fernanda introduced Olivia & Benito to me, I knew they were pawrrificaly in love. Not only Fer & Mat irradiated love but their beloved pets! 
The four of them are planning to settle down in Manly. Yes, Australia.

You reckon Olivia & Benito can fly to Australia???

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh

MACHU PICHU

Today we got up at 3.30 AM. Showered & left our hotel, the Eco Inn,  to meet Pablo. Pablo saluted us in perfect SPANGLISH. & drove us from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.

The fog, the narrow streets & the old culture made me shivered. Danger in any corner. Hard to comprehend the ability of Peruvian drivers. Honestly, I believe they are the best in South America.

Polite, yet money orientated.
´´Un poncho, señorita, solo trienta soles.` Their smiles to offer: Agua, gorro, guantes, corta vientos, saumerios, hierbas mejor que Viagra, Aqui la mejor oferta.

Compre, pague para eso Ud es turista. 

Oops

In grand style, the 6.30 AM Perurail train´s guides welcomed us. I was so excited taking photos like anyone else, that for one minute I watched my own image on the shinning train ohhhhh.Tourists starving for adventure. 

At 9.30 Bruce & I followed Darwin - our Machu Pichu guide to the top of the INCAS civilization.
All the way I couldn´t stop wondering about the spiritual ancentors. of this beautiful land.

Magic!

Pathetic.

.

PUNTA DEL DIABLO

A traditional beachside resort ??
More of a fishing village. Lots of stray dogs, dust & murky waves & quaint typical restaurants - eating places with no seats but logs & bricks smelling of fried sea food
Yes, the lot.

Patricia Beer Very Cold on the rock! :)

Our beach houses pretty colourful, pretty exotic, pretty sandy....

No swimming, just strolls over the dunes staring the Atlantic - No blue, gray, murky but at least no wild like the Pacific Ocean... Too sad to think about the horror in Japan ....

Chaoo

MONTEVIDEO!

Sniffing sea salt we jumped out the ferry - the large vessel we´d boarded in Buenos Aires Port, early that morning & Montevideo welcomed us.

Lovely city, homely atmosphere, music the air, scent of just-cut-grass: HOLA!

Map in hand, Bruce directed the taxi driver to Matthew´s place. Bruce is pretty good for desciphering maps & unsual locations. For sure he was born to know where is North, South, East & West, at one blink. Getting used to South American taxi drivers, bus drivers & drivers in general, he just smiled at me. The pleasure of being a tourist....Ohmygod!


Matthew & Fernanda embraced us & off we went for a real feast at Ël Mercado del Puerto
Liz, Garry, Patrick, Rebecca, Chris seemed to be local for the way they ordered ´´parrillada con chorrizo, langostinos, chancho...with lots of  pebre!

And of course ´´cervezas bien heladitas por favor.´´

One sleep before their wedding, we all sang till the wee hours. But my heart bled the following day.

I discovered the horror in Japan.
Mamaaaaaaa

The BIGGGGG DAY

On Friday 11 March 2011 while we were getting ready for Fernanda & Matthew's wedding, Japan suffered one of the biggest disasters. An earthquake followed by a tsunami .... The first images on TV made me cry. I jumped out - left the hairdresser salon. Ran three blocks - facing the Atlantic - in search of a telephone  My hair was half done, nail polished wet.
Called Mum. Chile was waiting for a tsunami too.

Breathing in
Breathing out.

Matthew & Fernanda wedding was FABULOSA.
Yes, faboulous!

Blanca y radiante va la novia
le sigue atras un novio amante

They kissed holding hands in the most tender way while the chorus was singing AVE MARIA!

The priest blessed them in English & Spanish.
A breathtaking fairytale wedding
God Bless Matthew & Fernanda forever.

Amen.

MENDOZA!

La Cordillera de los Andes is magestic - even in summer with no much snow still imposing @ scaring---
Bruce @ I crossed the ANDES in style - a two storey tourist coach, crowded with pretty noisy passengers drinking tea @ emparedados (sandwich) @ cakes, while we were snaking though the mountains up to 4800 metres above sea level!

Now we are in Argentina LAS CALLECITAS DE BUENOS AIRES TIENEN ESE QUE SE YO

Tonight .... Tango, of course.

Chaooooooo

VIÑA DEL MAR!

Fish & chips, woooooo

Paulo Neruda wrote LA ODA AL CALDILLO de CONGRIO  mmmmm such delicious dish I nearly licked Bruce´s plate & everybody´s elses absorbing the aromas mmm YUM!

From the balcony of our dearest friend DR. JAIME FARIAS ! 
Hurray; hurray hurray gracias millones de gracias

Santiago de Chile

MAMA!

Hot-tempered-witty-clever Mum kissed me ¿Y Felix? Meaning where is your brother. He went to pick you up and you are here with Gaby?
Hugging Gaby & Bruce, Mum smiled at me, oh bueno.

Mum is my best-best friend, regardless.
A good shover, a good run along with Pelusa at my heels & Hola que tal?

Afternoon at Felix´s celebrating Cata´s nineteen.

Family & Friends together to the end of time.
OLE, OLE, OLE!

MAORI´s SALUTE

Auckland, our first stop. Hidden in Bruce´s back pocket, little Blotch .... Grrrrr wooof.
Luckily after a couple of shots, we rushed to the airplane!

Leaving NZ, the friendy & absolutaly gorgous neighboard land, our plane, a 330 Lan CHILE, flew over the clouds .... three or four movies, dinner, breakfast, snacks ... sleep? no much - too excited analising luck.  

Seventeen hours later we land in Santiago de Chile & embraced Gaby.
Gaby is my mate since we dreamt-playing-grown-ups!

Sydney!

As you see we are leaving ....

See you on Thursday in Auckland

Blotch is coming along ....

Two days to fly away & some of Blotch's Friends-Fur-Ever urged me to take him along. Fingers cross Blotch behaves in the airplane!

You reckon a dog can fly to Chile????

That's another story but better to get into action!

Spanish class Ole, ole, ole!

Hola!

Lunes 28 Febrero 2011: Spanish class at Little Bay Community Centre.

The theme for the day: VIAJES = traveling.
Everybody was very excited about my trip - especially my friend Mandy!
Mandy lives around the corner and together we go to the gym, to the movies, to the park, to the beach & shopping!

Big spender

Oops.

So our Spanish lessons will continue through this blog, WOW!

Chaoooo

Three days for packing

Love Sunday mornings ....

Lion & Dolly Trolley are our cars.
(A V-8 Holden Statement & a A-160 Mercedes Benz)

Texas & Manchitas are our fair dinkum mates.

Manchitas is a Foxie Terrier & Texas is a German Collier.  Both of them are pawrrific. (they have pushed us to survive the odds & also they helped me to write Blotch!
Just check: www.blotchthedog.com)

But leaving our beloved companions alone is tough.

Lucky Bruce has a mate named Bruce.
Today, Bruce (Bruce's mate, our dear friend Bruce Burns, yes like the old actor) came to our place.

Manchitas & Texas kissed Bruce right on his nose.

Sydney Sunday afternoon washing the cars & cuddling Manchitas & Texas & reading about Machu Pichu ..... " Una cerveza, por favor."
Muchas gracias!

Who is who

I love Sydney to the core of my bones & yet I always dream flying to other places .... but cross my heart Australia is HOME!

Lucky me, Bruce is a well organiser. Together we've travelled around Australia in ECURB!

Ecurb is his 1200cc BMW cruiser motorbike. (Discover why Ecurb & Bruce are so connected... switch words!)   

At the moment,  Ecurb is dusty & waiting for a run - a serious run that we've promised HER to do as soon as we come back from our BIG adventure around South America. 

Now, Bruce is organising our trip & me too! 

You reckon Bruce & I could cross the Andes in a rented motorbike???

 - 

Saying bye bye ....

Last night I said bye bye to Garry & Liz. My partner, Bruce is Garry's cousin and Garry's son is getting married to Fernanda, en Uruguay!

Liz & Garry are so excited to meet Matthew's fiancee. And so are we.

So we all are going to meet in Montevideo NEXT month.

First, Bruce & I will fly on Thursday 3 March to Santiago. Have some fun with Mum, her dog Pelusa & the rest of the family.
The following day we'll catch up with old friends for a beer or two ....
I can hardly wait for  OUR BIG ADVENTURE!