Four Days in Sydney, Finally in Melbourne

After hours of sitting, on Sunday morning, we finally arrived at the Sydney airport. We ended up stuck up in the air for about 3 hours longer than originally projected, including an "emergency" refueling stop in Samoa. This meant, instead of spending 4 hours in the Fiji airport we spent less than one, and, as a result, having no time or oppurtunity to browse the duty free stores. The plane from Fiji to Sydney was an impressive double decker plane - it must have held hundreds of people, half of them sporting those corn row braids you get at any tropical destination.

We breezed through customs in Sydney, found the subway (also double decker!) into the city only to discover it cost an outrageous $14 per person! (And this was only the beginning of the revelation that everything really does cost more in Australia.) It took about an hour (and another $3.90 spent on the bus) and finally we arrived at Collaroy beach and our hostel. Unfortunately. due to rain, we didn't spend the next three days lounging and tanning as originally planned, however we did visit the Taronga zoo, walk up and down Collaroy beach, visit the Sydney Barrick's museum and walk around downtown Sydney, as well as relax in the hostel and enjoy a brief vacay.

This morning we arrived in Melbourne after an overnight train ride. Not a great sleep was had, however we saved money on a hostel which is always important when you have no income. Today we walked around a little bit, discovered the public library (free internet!) and enjoyed the sunny Melbourne (nice change from rainy Sydney).