Sydney-Taste the good life
You can’t just walk by a wine tasting!
It was a scene right out of a movie; You’ve Got Mail, St. Elmo’s Fire, or any movie that has that scene when the characters are strolling through a street market with lots of people and the leaves are falling from the trees.
In Sydney there is a part of town that is referred to as “The Rocks.” This is where the first prisoners came. Yes, it is true. Australia was settled as a prison colony. There are old barracks that line the water front which face the Sydney opera house. Did I say beautiful? Imagine a crystal clear day, the wind blowing just to give a little chill but once you are back in the sun its warm and soothing. Words aren’t going to express the senses that were experienced this day.
The streets were crowded with merchants and people. “Made in china”, seemed to dominate the market but there was a good representation of “Made in Australia” mostly photographs and boomerangs. The perspectives were amazing; from a bridge, through a bridge and a crisp shot of the opera house framed by trees and a Ferris wheel.
All things that comforts me. What is it that helps you find peace in your soul? I don’t mean piece of mind. Something more. It’s when you breathe in and exhale while at the same time saying “life is good.” Coffee. Wine. People watching. Need I say more?
I bought 5 tickets for wine tasting. I’ve just rediscovered what Jesus knew all along. Wine is that sweet passion in life that forces you to say, “ok, I’ll slow down just long enough to savor the good things.”
They had been suffered through a draught. I didn’t get here name but she was really nice. It was obvious I wasn’t a native. We talked about how little it had rained and I told her about how the muscles in Florida were keeping the water flowing and the lake low. If you live around lake Lanier you know what I’m talking about.
Shiraz is a wine that is a little spicy. Not as smooth as a Cabernet, but very good in its on right. If it weren’t for beer the Shiraz could be the Australian national drink. She said, “This is a big day.” I wasn’t sure what she was talking about at first. Then she said, “A couple other Americans asked me where the fireworks would be tonight?” I laughed. It was the 4th of July. I lost a day on the way over and lost all track of time. My thought was, “stupid Americans!” When you travel around the world its amazing to see how Americans make themselves stand out. It’s like a curse. She told them not everyone celebrates the 4th. Four more samples. Four more conversations. The day was good.
Willy and I spent the day walking, talking and looking. It some cases we even bought things. That picture with the Ferris wheel and Sydney opera house is on the wall in my office. It’s there to help me remember “all things good” and to stop and savor life.
