Saturday Jan 13 - OZ!

Firstly, what happened to Friday Jan, 12th? It was lost! We both find this international date change a bit weird,  but basically we are now a day ahead but 5 hours behind where we left LA.

We flew through the night from LA to Sydney and a very long night it was.  American is a pretty good airline in all but one respect - legroom!  Wow! That was the tightest we have ever been packed in a plane. Absurdly uncomfortable for what was about as long a flight as you can take. Ouch!

And, while we are in moaning mode (it won’t be for long) - baggage?  In both LA and Sydney we waited over an hour to be reunited with checked bags.  Are we just being spoiled brats or is that way too long to get luggage off a plane?

We were warned on the plane not to make a false declaration on our customs form.  This led to an abundance of caution and resulting welcome to Australia by a drug sniffing dog! But he was really nice, setting a high bar for humans to match in terms of speed and welcoming attitude.

Finally through and free in Australia we started out with an airport coffee that was every bit as good as people have told us Australian coffee is. Avis were super efficient and we made it out of Sydney and up to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains without incident.  Apparently we like towns that start with K and end in A and this one looks promising with great scenery and attractions even though the town itself may be falling behind a bit in terms  of keeping itself updated.

A fairly typical but slightly dilapidated series of stores in Katoomba. 

Some strange looking realtors here!

We’re trying hard to stay awake and make the time zone leap but, after our first Aussie meat pie and beer for lunch and now a Clare Valley Chardonnay and cheese for happy hour we may not last long into the evening.

Keeping up the food theme - Guinness Pie! Yum!