Day 5 - Friday, March 20 - Sydney: Luna Park & taking a break...

Hello friends & family:
Today started off with a bang when I woke up early and had breakfast
while reading the local newspapers. Apparently there is a long standing
rivarly between Melbourne and Sydney, and they continue to try to "one up" each other. The latest fracus is how Melbourne got Tiger Woods to play in their upcoming Victorian Masters...then Premier Nathan Rees of Sydney's New South Wales announces what he says is an even BIGGER coup - a concert by "ambient musician" Brian Eno. WHO? Celebrity manager Max Markson said the fact that Rees sees Eno as a bigger draw than Tiger Woods is "A joke! Half the public don't know who Brian Eno is, and the other half are probably still on acid". I hooted out loud in the restaurant!

Following breakfast, Willie and I set off for Luna Park which is a 5 minute ride across the bay by boat. Luna Park is a Coney Island arcade/ride amusement park and was full of more schoolchildren than those at the Zoo! These were teenagers however, and all had cameras and were on a photography safari. Everywhere we go, the schoolkids are in the most darling school uniforms - every school public or private has the kids wear uniforms. Most are rather old-fashioned in design with round-cornered collars and little bowties. The female students today had dresses made of seersucker - like a dress I bought last year at Ralph Lauren!! Very sweet. Luna Park was originally built in 1935 and their carousel dates from 1910 - it's spectacular. The park closed in 1995, and reopened in 2004 after an $80 million renovation. It's a fun city spot, but nothing like Disneyland or Universal Studios...I imagine it comes alive after dark.

After Willie rode on some of the "make me sick" rides, we went on the ferris wheel which gave us a magnificient view of Sydney Harbor and the city in all it's glory.(did I mention it is ANOTHER beautiful day?)We bought some popcorn and Willie started chatting up some young ladies in line... when they found out he was from LA they screeched "OH DO YOU KNOW MYLIE CYRUS?????" He said, "No but I know Arnold Schwarzenegger!" They said, "WHO???" Then we hopped on a water taxi to go across the bay to a restaurant called Sails, where Bill & Willie had eaten at 10 years ago, only to find NOW it is a very upscale seafood cafe, so that would NOT do
for Willie Simon.

We walked over to the train station and took the train back to our hotel and have been here ever since, just relaxing and writing postcards. I bought copy of NOW magazine, which is like our People Magazine (the lady at the newstand said THEIR People Magazine has nude photos in it...tsk tsk). I prefer the quiet of my room, but Willie prefers the bar where he gets free nuts & enjoys the people watching - as he told me "Mom - I'm 21 now so I can hang out at the bar". Oh - I included in this day's blog a photo of a painting by Sydney artist Ken Done. He has all kinds of little shops selling his brightly colored, almost folk-art like paintings - I LOVE THEM! He left school at age 14, and went to Art school for 5 years, and is probably Sydney's best known artist. He designed the logo for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Google him - you will love his work too!

Tomorrow we take off on Quantas and head up north to Cairns, where we will be staying at the Thala Beach Lodge in Port Douglas, the barrier reef area. The decison to stay at this particular resort was made by Willie who discovered in his on-line research, that it is where "my favorite singer Natalie Imbruglia was married on New Year's Eve December 31st, 2003" to be exact. (She's now divorced). The brochure lists it as "the most romantic resort in all of Australia". From what I can tell, there is a lot of bird watching to be done. We've got all kinds of activities planned...stay tuned!

ps: Horrible tragic and untimely death of Natasha Richardson reminds me not to let one day go by without appreciating the very precious gift of my family and friends.