Six days and 150 minutes, it’ll be time to step on a Qantas 787 for my 16+ hour flight to Sydney, Australia. Needless to say I am looking forward to it. A continent I have always wanted to visit and a people with whom I feel a kindred connection (well, I am talking the European transplants here) and my best friend Bruce (and spouse Jackie) here in Dallas hail from Melbourne so it’s only logical that I go.

Spending three nights in Sydney, a nice drive down the coast road to Eden, then across to Yarra Glen in the wine region north-east of Melbourne. A two night stay with Bruce’s parents which I have to say is very likely to be the highlight of my trip since I get to experience a normal Australian town and spend time with them and Bruce and Jackie’s dogs, then off to Melbourne for the remainder of the trip. Bruce kindly presented me with a list of things to do and mapped out some lovely city walks, and I will also get to meet Karen, his sister, in the Melbourne Central Business District. It’s a lot like visiting long lost family members I’ve never met; just feels very natural.