Arrived Downunder

     Long, long days...woke up on November 30th in Positano, Italy and settling in for the night of Decmber 3rd in Sydney, Australia. Traveling like this is a lot like sleep walking. With time changes, flight times, and layovers we aren't really sure if were coming or going.
     We had a late flight (8:30pm) on the 1st to Dubai which took a little over 5 hours and, with time changes, we got to theDubai  Airport at 5am facing a 5 hour layover...had no expectations to find anything open at that hour, boy were we wrong...everything is alive and busy at 5am in Dubai...this has got to be the nicest airport in the world...when I say their is everything at the airport I mean everything...the stores are so big and well stocked its incredible...and to see 7 - 8 check out counters fully staffed and busy at that time of the day is amazing...all the comforts of home were available, Starbucks (which Nanc has been craving), and even McDonalds and Burger King. We didn't do any shopping but wandered around a bit checking out all the available goods. You could take a flight to Dubai just to shop at the airport.
     At 9:05am we boarded a flight to Bangkok, not bad, only a 5 hour flight and again with time change we arrived somewhere around 6am (a little fuzzy here)...we had to disembarck and take all of our stuff out to a security checkpoint and go thru a full security check, then we were directed to walk what seemed like miles to get back to our gate, then we had another full security check and got back on the same plane for our last leg into Sydney...crazy all these checks just after a check!! We left Bangkok about 8:30am.

Dubai airport...look at this store!

Street painter

Very good street musician

Selling something that has to do with dogs.

Street Fair.

Street guitarist.

March in support of gay unions.

Thet want equality.

aussie products

lots of aprons for the barbie

clocks are cool

tiles are fun.

South American Music...love this stuff

Opera House.

The real deal...with shades.

No coustume but he was great.

Donut??? Looks like a hotdog bun!

      After settling in for the last part of our trip the captain informs us we will be in the air for about 8 1/2 hours...yikes. Lots of movies, a little sleep and some horrible food later we land in Sydney at 8:35 am...not sure of all these time changes but it really leaves you warped. Caught the train into Circular Quay and walked to the hotel, arriving 11am...no early checkin and our room will not be ready until 3pm...we did a little sleep walking thru Central Sydney saw lots of street musicians, a protest march in support of gay marriage, a xmas fair and lots of  other cool stuff...finally got up in our room at 3:30 and immediately feel asleep for a nap...got up at 8pm and went out for a little supper and then back for more glorious  sleep...hopefully tomorrow we'll feel less disoriented.