Hello from Down Under!

After 29 hours of travel, we made it to the other side of the world! The 14 hour flight from LA to Sydney wasn't too bad, despite cozy seats and airline food. I watched 4 movies-well, started watching each movie, but fell asleep before the end of each one. Advice we received was to stay awake for the first half of the trip, and then take a sleeping aid and sleep as much as possible on the second half of the trip. It worked pretty well!
Sydney has been great-very warm and slightly humid, but ocean breezes are welcome! We took a tour of the Sydney Opera House today. It's one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, but I didn't know it was really 2 large buildings, holding 5 separate venues: 3 smaller theaters for drama, a large concert hall and the opera hall. The facility holds 2500 events every year, so it's a busy place. We were able to see the symphony orchestra rehearsing for a performance in the concert hall and then watch the stage hands prepare the opera stage for the evening performance of Madama Butterfly. We also took a ferry to Manly Beach, got a look at the Pacific Ocean and watched surfers, went to a small aquarium and watched divers feeding sharks. We got to pet a baby saltwater croc! We've explored several neighborhoods and harbor areas, seen all kinds of boats.

Have to say thanks to DB#3 and family for helping us spend our long layover in LA. They took us to Redondo Beach to a great surfside restaurant, then on a tour of some of the beach towns and piers. Interesting real estate and and a view into the California lifestyle. We were really grateful for the break, especially when we had to spend time in the LAX International terminal at peak travel time (nighttime) with few services past security.

Of course, we've loved seeing our DD and her DH! Looking forward to seeing more family and more of Oz!
Will post photos in the next few days! On a pay-for-internet service here, so have to keep this brief!
Jet lag is taking over, so will close for now!