Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone! May this year be filled with health, happiness, and peace.

Unlike at home, where it's usually snowing and horribly cold on New Year's Eve and so too cold for us to spend any significant time outdoors, Adam and I decided that here we would go to the main event. We some how managed to push through the crowds and squeeze our way to the very front of the Opera House. It was quite unbelievable how many people shoved themselves into a rather small area.

More amazing still is that some people who had decided to get there earlier in the day staked our these huge areas with blankets and by 10:30 pm were so tired they felt the need to nap on these very same picnic blankets. Everywhere we walked we had to step around people who were sleeping.
But when midnight struck and the fireworks began it was amazing. The most spectacular firework display was the bridge. Every time the bridge would like up the crowd would cheer more. I can't wait to see what happens for Australia Day (January 26).

New Year's Day was pretty relaxed as most things were closed. Because it was so hot, a record 44 C (111 F), Adam and I headed out Manly Beach (more on Sydney beaches and the recent riots later). Of course, we weren't the only ones with this idea and we found ourselves once again part of a big crowd.