Hello from the other side

Birthday on the plane:

Cheers to 25 with some sweet snacks I found at the Los Angeles Airport.

I do not know if I would do a birthday on a plane again, but 25 will be a birthday I will never forget.

And here is a reccomendation for United Airlines: when I first got on the plane one of the flight attendants found me and wished me a Happy Birthday personally. It was a little creepy because I had not told anyone it was my birthday BUT it was nice to have someone else on the plane remember my birthday. Way to go United! I really should have asked for a free birthday drink but alas the opportunity has long passed...

Oh my gosh we are flying over land- after 15 hours on a plane over the Pacific Ocean and over 30 hours of travel, Australia was looking mighty fine!

The Home at the Mansion, my hostel and home for the next week.

This is the first trip I am truly- winging-I am only planning a week out in advance.

I want to see where this trip takes me.

First Impressions of Melbourne:

I freaking love this City- could totally see myself living and or going to school here one day. (Please don't worry too much mom!)

First of all, there is a free, yes free, tram (kind of like a cable car) that travels around the city center

More of the tram

They have a beautiful National Public Library in walking distance of my hostel with better wifi than the hostel and of course the wifi is free (which is for me)

Reading Room in the Library-a perfect place for me to write this blog

 Gardens Everywhere

 Like I said the Australians love their parks and gardens

They have a HUGE coffee culture in Melbourne

They are growing food in a garden, I ate some mint, in front of the Councils' (like the Govenor) Building

And they have random community garden plots with vegetables growing around the city

 There is a beautiful place to walk and enjoy theYarra River

 

 Tons of public art by the river and around the city

The food is both healthy and delicious

 They had a Sustainable Living Festival, the weekend I arrived 

and was the perfect place to volunteer and make friends!

 And they have a sense of humor!

And so it begins...

How I pack is by piling what I think I will take

 This is the pile AFTER I had taken out the things I did not think I would need...

And this is the pile stuffed, I mean neatly packed and organized, into my luggage

Does this look like too much stuff?

I couldn't bring myself to take less...I probably have enough clothes to survive without doing laundry for two weeks. Plus, I had to pack for both warm and cold weather so no wonder it did not fit in one backpack. As you can see pictured above, I ended up taking a large 65 liter red backpack and a small rolling suitcase (the small suticase does have a detachable backpack- score!). I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be sending home a package of stuff after the first few weeks in Melbourne.

Alright the day has arrived. If you look in the backround the clock says 5 am- why yes let's get up before the crack of dawn, put an almost 30 pound backpack on our back and attempt to make a 7 am flight. Who thought this was a good idea?

The drive to the airport was surreal; it may have been the lack of sleep but after some tearful goodbyes to the rents, the emormity of my decision hit me as I waited in the security line. I am alone and I am embarking on my trip- it was both liberating and unerving.

Touchdown in San Francisco

The feeling of freedom over takes me as I make my way from SFO airport to downtown San Fran. I planned it so I had a very long (8 hours) in San Francisco. Last time I was here I did not get to ride the cable cars so that was my goal for the day.

Breakfast also became a goal for the day.

And was accomplished with these Dulce de Leche Crepes (oh how I miss all the Dulche de Leche from Argentina) as well as some delicious eggs, potaotes, and toast 

Ok wait for it....

 Cable Car!

Views from the Cable Car

 San Fran, is very hilly

Up close and personal with the car

Thanks John, the Cable Car operator, for some sweet pictures of me on the car.

Fisherman's Wharf

Picture perfect:

Golden Gate Bridge, mountains, waterfront and a cable car 

The famous crooked street, Lombard Street

I think the coolest part of the cars was how historic they were;

the same cars have been used and operated for over 100 years

Needless to say it was a great layover in San Francisco... and I had plenty of time to make it back to the airport to make my connection to Los Angeles and then Melbourne, Australia.


I am slowly finding that traveling alone comes with a huge feeling of freedom. I can go and do whatever I want. Also traveling feels like you are strengthing a special muscle in your body. I have realized that I have done a fair amount of traveling in my short time here on Earth. Each city poses its unique challenges but for the most part you have to face the same things in every city: how to get from the airport to where you are staying, what are the best places to find food, what are the key things I want to see in do in the city (not planning too much, just highlights to see,traveling is intensifed living and takes a lot of energy), and my favorite mastering the public transit system which includes my favorite challenge buying the correct tickets. Each new challege you overcome, your travel muscle gets stronger. I wonder how good of a traveler I will be by age 60? A pro I hope!