I am totally in love with Sydney! I loved it the moment I got out of the aeroport building when the fresh air came rushing into me. The air was refreshing, chill and calming, I just had a great "first moment." As the taxi driver drove me out of the aeroport complex, I felt like I was back in South Africa, although people drove faster and honk more than the South Africa in my memory. After all, I guess, Sydney is a big city, bigger and more modernized than Pretoria.

I got to the hotel and everyone was so friendly. People in the hotel, people in the street... They smile, unlike the Parisians. I just love it! Even though it's going to be winter soon here, the weather was just perfect. It wasn't cold at all. I only had a shirt on and did not even need my jacket. It was sunny, the sky was blue, everything is still green. I got to the hotel, and though as much as I wanted to get out there and start my first day in Sydney, I gave in to the comfortness of the hotel bed, and slept through the morning. Around 10:30 AM, I finally got myself together and met up with Melissa. We had a little walk around the area that I am going to be living in and work in, Chippendale and Chinatown, then we had a warm lunch. After lunch, we started walking towards the water. I was thinking more out towards Port Jackson, Sydney Cove area so I could see the Syendy Opera House and Harbour Bridge, but we ended up heading towards Darling Harbour first since it was closer. It was great over there, nice water, great harbour area. People were just sitting around and having late lunches, enjoying their time. After that, we headed towards the Sydney Cove along the water. It was a long but really pleasant walk, I would say. We got a bit lost since we weren't quite sure if we were heading towards the right direction. Finally, we saw a rocky area and I figured that we were close to The Rocks. Then all of a sudden, I saw the Harbour Bridge... I saw people walking on top of the bridge and it was just a weird feeling. I mean, after reading so much about it and finaly seeing it is a totally differnt experience. We then walked under the bridge and got closer to the water, walked towards the Opera House. When we hit the water, I saw benches and just had to sit down by the water, watch the Opera House in the distance, being under the bridge, and just watch people go by, relaxing, hear the water hitting the shore... It was a great late afternoon, though there was no sunset since we are on the wrong side of the continent for sunsets on the shore line, the clouds were splendid due to the setting sun. A couple were out there getting their wedding pictures taken... high school children were walking around in their uniforms, families were out for walks... It was an amazing time for me. I sat there in the soft light of the setting sun... thinking... how lucky am I to be here at this time? Life is just... amazing :)