When I looked at the photos to decide what to write in this blog, I noticed that we have already experienced so much. We have been here in Australia for over 5 months now and time is flying.
In the last two months, we had friends visiting, I took a flight over Sydney, we went to a farm, discovered a little paradise, went to the mountains and Newcastle, went on a few bushwalks, and celebrated Easter and Nils' birthday.
FLIGHT OVER SYDNEY
At the beginning of the year, a friend asked me if I wanted to participate in a flight over Sydney. Of course, I couldn't say 'NO'. In February, the time had come. We were able to see Sydney from a completely different perspective. It was a great experience, as long as you didn't get airsick. :-)
In such a small plane, you feel every air pocket.
VISIT FROM HOME In February, we also had the first visit from Germany. We had a great time with our friends. Since Yves had been to Australia before, he could show us other great sides of Sydney. We did a bit of sightseeing in the CBD and also went to Stanwell Park, where he went paragliding. Animal Encounters in AustraliaWe have also had a few animal encounters that make life in Australia very exciting. We haven't seen any snakes so far, but we often see spiders. People warn you about the 'poisonous' spiders in Australia, and in Germany I was really afraid of spiders. But now I'm not anymore. You get used to the spiders, and not all spiders in Australia are poisonous. But even with the venomous animals, Australians are very relaxed. Here is an example of a spider we caught in our house. Other animals we have encountered are the 'Blue Bottles'. Their stings cause a painful rash on the skin. So, as soon as we spot these creatures on the beach, we avoid the water. Only Stephan had to try it once and got stung. But of course, there are also animals that are not venomous. We had a White Peacock in our garden. We often see pelicans at Narrabeen Lake. And rabbits are very common here. Activities with FriendsWe have also met so many amazing people here with whom we do a lot of activities. We went to Calmsley Hill Farm, often go to the beach, explore nature, and go on bushwalks. We really enjoy these precious moments with friends. Here are some impressions. A Little ParadiseWe have also discovered a little paradise near the school. The so-called 'Duck Ponds'. We spend time there with our friends after school. There are two small ponds that are connected by a stream. The area is very rocky, and one of the ponds has a rope hanging from a tree that the kids can swing on over the water. So, it's a real adventure land for the kids and also for the adults. ActivitiesWe are slowly starting to explore the Australian continent outside of Sydney. We have been to the Blue Mountains, Newcastle, and Port Stephens. Norah Head Lighthouse Newcastle Beach Anna Bay Three Sisters (Blue Mountains) Katoomba Falls Sporting ActivitiesAnd it's actually true that we are much more active here in terms of sports than in our home country. Nils' class had a surf lesson, which he really enjoyed. Stephan also discovered surfing for himself.Another activity that the three of us are enthusiastic about is kayaking. It's a great activity where you can really enjoy nature. EventsWhat else has happened? We celebrated Easter and especially Nils' birthday. Many wishes and gifts arrived by mail on his birthday and the days before and after. Nils was very happy with every package and every letter. And he had a great celebration with his Australian friends, with lots of games, a treasure hunt, and of course, a proper BBQ. As you can see, a lot has happened and there is so much to explore and do. It's a real adventure! But we are also looking forward to the time with our loved ones in Germany when we spend the summer there. I will definitely get back to you with more news from Down Under before that.
