Lots to Catch Up...

After almost six months in Sydney, Todd and I are absolutely settled in and certainly feeling comfortable in Australia.  We have both been so busy with work and trips lately that it's been hard to update everyone on everything that we have been doing.  This weekend was the first one in some time that we were able to just relax and hang out a bit.  Sydney is such a beautiful place and there are so many wonderful places around the city and plenty just outside of the city that it is easy to feel bad for just staying in every once in a while.  Here are some photos to catch up on what we have been doing recently. 


Anzac Day
 

To celebrate Anzac Day, Todd and I headed to the dawn service in the city--it started at 4:30 a.m. so we were up around 3:30 to catch the bus into the city.  The service honors the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army who fought at Gallipoli during WWI.

Here is a shot of the dawn service--it was very moving and made us feel even more connected to this country.

Once we made it home after the dawn service, the sun was finally coming up!

  

Anzac Day is the only day that you are allowed to play a game called Two Up in Australia.  It is basically a betting game that huge groups of people participate in at bars all over the country.  Also, we were able to catch a glimpse of a part of the parade.

After a very long Anzac Day, we walked over the bridge and headed out to celebrate a friend's birthday.

During One Weekend we walked the 10K trek from Manly Beach back to an area close to our apartment...

This was the start of our walk.  Luckily, we did this walk when it was a bit chilly because this beach is PACKED when it's warm outside.

About halfway through the walk.

One of the friendly creatures we met along the walk.

A look back towards where we started in the morning.

As we reached the end of the 10K, we took in the beautiful scenery.

We heard some creepy sounds coming from the trees.

Of course, Todd was mesmerized by the bridge.

Trying to understand the Australian sports.

Cheering on friends who were running the Sydney half marathon.

Australia is pretty serious about people drinking responsibly.  They even have ads on the streets warning of people walking when they are too drunk.

Our trip to the Barossa--one of Australia's most famous wine regions
 

We stopped by one of the local restaurants where they had an interesting mix of wildlife.

Todd--he's always making friends.

A view of the Barossa.

A nice reminder that in Australia they drive on the left side of the road.

Trying out driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time.

Stopping by one of our favorite wineries.

One of our few kangaroo sightings of the weekend.

We stopped by a couple of wineries while there--this was the view from one of them.

Another winery stop.

Sunset from the Barossa.

Hopefully this gives a little perspective of the past month or so in Australia.