G'day, mates!

Well, we're actually here! We finally left LA on Sunday night, Oct. 30, and flew to Sydney overnight minus a day (date line). Then we went on to Melbourne where we changed planes yet again and flew to Adelaide. There we finally met our tour guide and began our tour.

Adelaide is a lovely city, beautifully laid out and at this time of year, warm and sunny. We toured the town, visited the Cleland Animal Reserve where we hand fed kangaroos and scratched the back of a koala! (His name was "Vincent"!)

We also visited the wine institute (no surprise there) and then had time to visit the South Australian museum's aboriginal exhibit. We've also enjoyed wonderful food and superb wine in this prolific red wine growing region. We had the opportunity to experience a home hosted dinner and to get to know an Australian couple in their residence. It is one of the wonderful "perks" of an Overseas Adventure Travel tour and we had a wonderful evening with Sue and Leith.

Today we flew to Alice Springs in the center of the country. Hot and arid, this year the area has seen more rain than in the past few decades and so is greener than normal. It is a hub of Aboriginal culture. Tomorrow we will take an optional tour to a village to experience that culture up close. The following day we go to Uluru and see that magnificent giant monolith.

From the time we arrived in country, we have had days filled with amazing experiences. For example, today we met an amazing Aboriginal man of about 80 years who told us about his early life in what amounts to the Australian equivalent of a Native American boarding school. He also showed us how to throw a boomerang, which Jon mastered after 2 tries!!!! Alec also demonstrated the use of a bull whip - very loud and intimidating!

I will post again soon but perhaps not until we reach the coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Internet can be sporadic here!