Not a Bear...

Today`s adventure is amazing. We had lunch with 30 koalas at the Lone Pine Sanctuary just 11k from downtown Brisbane. Michael and I sat in a tented dining area surrounded by the koalas and for most of the time we were the only two humans present.

The staff here do a great job caring for this endangered species and teaching the public about koalas. These fussy eaters tend to sleep 18 to 20 hours per day so we felt fortunate to observe many climbing and eating.

I was lucky to hold Cobar a male southern koala for a photo op. I think this day counts as a large adventure.

What a way to begin!

Our first evening we had a tremendous experience. We were invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of La Traviata -- a performance on an outdoor stage on Sydney Harbor. The first act ended with a firework display that exceeded a Fourth of July celebration in many a U.S. community. The evening was entirely magical - set against a backdrop of the Sydney Opera House, with stars above and cockatoos flying in the garden surrounding the venue.  We ended our first adventure exhausted and exhilarated.

It began with an invitation

At first it was only an email. Would we attend a wedding in Australia? Wow. It would be the trip of a life time.

Then we received the actual invitation in the mail.It took my breath away. It didn't take long for us to accept.

It is almost 10,000 miles from Cooperstown to Sydney. How long could we stay? Where would we go?  How should we decide what to see?  

Since mid-February we have been researching and reading about this island country. My husband has taken to calling it "the land of superlatives". And we shall soon see. Today we depart for Sydney. Over the next few weeks I will share some photos and experiences so that you can travel along with me.