Internet research said don't waste your time on visiting the famous Bondi Beach. Info online said traffic is bad, crowds are unmanageable and it's just more of the same old, same old. Bad advice! A couple of days ago when planning our remaining time, we decided that since we will probably be here in Sydney only once, we should see one of the most famous beaches in the world, Bondi. And it was worth it. Gorgeous! If we should ever return to this area, I'd like to stay in Bondi - especially now that we have figured out the bus system. It's about a 30-minute bus ride outside Sydney central business district, but the line takes you through interesting little areas like Darlinghurst, Paddington and Woollahra. Paddington, by the way is a very nice area - it is a little bit out of the way if one should choose to stay there, but it is a very upscale, trendy part of metropolitan Sydney.

After Bondi, we bussed back to Circular Quay and then walked to the Sydney Opera House and spent a little time there. Construction on this Sydney icon was begun in 1959 and not completed until 1973. Work and improvements continue on today. Seems the original architect had a falling out with the state of New South Wales; he abandoned the project and never saw his design in its completed form. Sad. We learned this from the head of security at the Opera House. We just happened to board an elevator with him, asked a couple of simple questions, and this must have opened the tap. It was as if he had been waiting for us. For the next ten minutes, he happily gave us history and politics on the building, short cuts to our next stops and well wishes.

From there we walked through the Royal Botanic Gardens and stopped to relax and enjoy a simply perfect day in perfect weather with a bottle of white wine on the lawns overlooking the water.

Afterwards we walked to St. Mary's Cathedral - our first and only cathedral this trip. We stopped to pause a moment to admire the beautiful architecture and to sit for a while and silently give thanks.

By the time we reached our little hobbit house at the end of the day, I think we accomplished our average of walking 8-10 miles a day We are tired, fulfilled, ready to pack and get ourselves ready to go home. Home - what a heart-warming word! Travel is an extra special gift in life for those who want it and can manage it. One thing is certain, travel, no matter how fabulous it may be, makes us appreciate and love home even more. Atlanta is still two weeks away, but California, here we come. America at last!