Looking at this gorgeous view of Sydney reminds me that seeing the beauty here is only part of the experience of being here. It’s one thing to attempt to describe sights and to show pictures; another thing completely to try to capture in words the sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of this most wonderful place. Whenever we come here, I’m reminded anew of the fabulous bird sounds that are heard during all the daylight hours and into the twilight. It may sound corny to say that it’s like a symphony, but that is truly the best parallel I can provide. Some of the most ordinary looking birds have the prettiest songs.

And, who wouldn’t enjoy the typical smells of summer – newly mown lawns, the heat from the asphalt as it burns under 82 degree sunshine, the salty fresh smell of the ocean, the delicious aroma of barbecues in the park, the musky odor of the bats in the Botanical Garden, the permeating sweet smell of the frangipani (plumeria) trees that seem to be in everyone’s garden – and all this in February and March!!

For all my “foodie” friends out there – Sydney is a must for the gastronomical experience. Tom & I struggle to lose/maintain weight - even though we cycle everyday, and walk just about everywhere. There are so many great choices, and the fresh vegetables and fruits in Australia are some of the best around.

Probably the hardest thing to put into words is the feeling of being here. How can one portray the feeling of the warm wind blowing across your skin, or the breeze as you ride your bike down a hill? How do you describe the thrilling sensation of jumping into the ocean and experience that moment of shockingly cool water, only to have your body adjust to the temperature within seconds? Just breathing here is an experience everyone should have at least once during their lifetime.

I truly hope that each and every one of you will come here and experience all this for yourselves – do it soon!!! You’ll want to come back again and again!