Mate, we made it!

Yes - we're here. Let me try to describe the past 36 hours in some sort of order.

We left for the Denver airport at 5:00pm, Denver time. They checked our bags in Denver and to our surprise, said we'd be able to check them all the way to Brisbane (with a short trip through customs in Sydney). Just to alleviate your fears, our bags arrived just as promised --- nothing to worry about. The flight from LA to Sydney left at 10:30 Thursday evening and we arrived in Sydney 141/2 hours later. The flight itself was looooooooooonnnnnnggggg, but we slept more than we thought we could (which was about 5 hours each). Just for the record, Quantas Airlines does a fabulous job making the flight the most enjoyable possible. Everyone could choose from their own movie packages or listen to music. Plus two meals and lots of pillows and blankets to sleep with. My personal favorite was the Map and Clock on the TV --- Showing you exactly where in the middle of the Pacific Ocean you're currently located (in case of that emergency water landing - which I actually took seriously this time!) and telling you down to the minute how much time you have remaining until your arrival on the ground. It's quite a daunting thought to have finished a 2 hour movie and a meal only to realize you still have 11 hours left on your trip.

But - we made it! Luggage and all! After touching down in Sydney and going through customs, we headed off to our connecting flight to Brisbane (another 1 1/2 hours). There, Adam (the groom) greeted us and took us to our hotel.

That gave way to driving on the "wrong" side of the road and riding in a car with the steering wheel being located on the "right" side of the vehicle. Jimmy will be driving a friend's car back and forth and while we're not so concerned about driving on the interstate ('cause you just stay in the same lane everyone else is in), it could take a great deal of concentration not to make a right hand turn on a red light! (Because traffic moves from right to left, not left to right). I don't think we'll have any conversations while we're driving - it's so easy to get turned around and go the wrong way!

After a quick shower, we went with friends to eat --- and of all places --- we went to KFC! Simple chicken dinners gave us a kick to keep going all afternoon. We're quite tired right now - but refusing to take a nap and give into the jet lag that's plaguing us. I'm typing this post from the groom's parent's house - who have graciously opened up their home for a barbeque for all "guests from overseas" for the evening. It's so good to see old friends (FYI - this family was one of 3 families who moved to the states from australia 7 years ago, then moved back to australia 3 years ago). I'm amazed at how much their 4 boys have grown and yet their hospitality remains incredible.

Australia itself feels much like southern california to me - lots of palm trees, tropical plants and flowers, heat and humidity and sun and fun. I don't mind the heat a bit - I guess the whole part about me being in a tropical location while on vacation just makes the whole thing that much more enjoyable. In fact, driving in the car, with the windows down, my sunglasses on, wind blowing through my hair, makes me feel like a true vacationer.

I'm sorry this post isn't quite so witty - I am quite tired and my contacts are not cooperating. But it's a good thing I got the tan... this place is crawling with bronzed, blonde bodies!

Tomorrow is "sleeping in" day - and rehearsal for the wedding. The plane didn't have an outlet for Jimmy's computer (only in business class - darn!) so we weren't able to post anything on the flight itself... but hopefully we can do a day-by-day update for you from now on. It's the least you deserve for reading all of Carrie's Comments - without the confetti.

G'Day Mate!

Carrie