Sydney

Sydney is a really beautiful city.
Getting to Sydney was a wonderful experience for the most part. We camped along the way, slept in the car, looked at the stars, cooked and made campfires. I cuddled with Florian and we woke up to the ocean right near us. We went for a refreshing, although pretty cold, morning dip and got back on the road. That's what the first few days were like.
We stopped at a nature park/zoo and got to be really up close with lots of different animals. I saw my first koala and mother kangaroo with a joey in the pouch. The scenery were drove by was breathtaking.

Then we got to Sydney and things got a lot less wonderful, at least for me. Don't get me wrong, Sydney is beautiful. Probably the nicest city I have ever seen. Having been to San Francisco and coming from Montreal, I think that is really saying something. A huge and free botanical garden right in the middle of the city makes such a difference. It is lovely, brings life to the city and breaks up the concrete monotony. People can stroll along, have picnics, learn all about different plants species or just soak in the amazing surroundings. I really, really loved the botanical gardens.

Darling Harbor in Sydney was equally captivating. So much life and energy there. We made it in time for the Latin festival. There was music and dancing all over the place. I was a little surprised how static the crowd was for the show however. There was music that I just couldn't help but start dancing to and when I looked around, I was one of the very few dancing. A few latinas were feeling the music but everyone else was standing still and looking to the stage. It was interesting because I've never been to a show in Montreal without the crowd going at least a little wild. I thought Australia was even more outgoing. So I'll have to observe this more, which means going to more shows :D hehe
I got to eat Paella and it was super yummy. I'm loving seafood these days by the way, I don't know what's up but yay!
So yes, the harbor was beautiful, the festival was awesome, and a restaurant I went to for dessert was absolutely delicious and had a great few. I'm really impressed with Sydney. I will have to begin exploring Melbourne and what it has to offer as well because I haven't seen much of it yet apart from the schools where I've been working.
This is a few of the harbor at night time.

Sydney also has the beach, bondi beach to be specific. It was very windy and rainy on the day we went to check it out so I'm not going to put up a pic because I don't think it does it justice. So ya I think Sydney is amazing and has a lot to offer. I wouldn't complain if I had to live there, that's for sure. We'll see how Melbourne compares once I start to do the touristy thing here.

But now for the shitty side of the trip. So traveling with two guys...Oye!
Maybe a trip with two guys where one is your boyfriend would be alright, or a trip where there is at least one other girl to keep the guys in line or on their best behavior out of amorous interest, but definitely not a trip with two guys looking to hook-up with practically anything. Or maybe even a trip with nice and decent guys (if that is not an oxymoron). I got to know more about the guy psyche than I ever wanted to know. Had to hear shitty pick-up lines being rehearsed. Had to hear how women are irrational and crazy. Had to hear that I should be able to go to the bathroom by the side of the road or sleep in a bloody parking lot. Had to eat fucking McDonald's like a million times. Had to make friends fast at Darling Harbor because the guys said they would be back and freaking left me there on my own for like 2+ hours. Not to mention how at the hostel, at the pub, and at the club we barely talked because I would interfere with them getting their mack on. I've never been so happy about being able to speak French in my life because I was able to make friends with a bunch of people from France at the hostel. (<3 to French people, especially with hot accents.) The hostel we only stayed at for one night because the rest of the time we slept in a car...
Man, I got sick on the way back home too. The needing to use the bathroom desperately kind of sick and what does the guy I'm coming home with do? He pulls off of the highway next to a bloody field in the daylight and says it's a perfect spot for him to go to the bathroom. Gets out of the car, pulls out his obviously superior male genitalia and goes for a piss. Tells me I can go to the bathroom there as well. Well let me tell you, I almost lost my shit.
"Does it look like I have a penis? Do you think I want to take a shit next to a field alongside the highway? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Seriously, I mean have a little decency, I'm sick from eating god damn McDonald's as my main diet, not to mention I've been trying not to eat meat and doing pretty freaking well before this road trip, so now my stomach is majorly messed up. And you want me to go alongside the road? Really?!? really???
And that's just one example. I also wasn't permitted to listen to the radio or put the heat on when I was cold. No no, the AC is a must. We can't open the windows because that wastes gas. I hate the god damn AC and I like the radio and I don't want to listen to your shit music for the 3rd time around. Ok to be fair, a lot of the music was alright. But no one wants to hear the same stuff over and over. And you know what? I'm paying for the trip just like you and who do you think you are? These are just all my thoughts and what was going through my head. So yea, that side of the trip much less glamorous but will probably make for some funny memories later.

Anyways, I'm either a sucker for punishment or wanting a renewal of faith in men because I am going for another road trip this weekend coming up with two other guys. Two of my roommates actually. They seem super nice, but now my saying is, you never know someone until you road trip with him (or her). :P Dylan invited me to his home in the country where he grew up and I'm really excited to see that. Brent is going to come as well I think. Feels like an authentic Australian experience. I'm looking forward to seeing where Dylan grew up, to meeting his family and his friends. Should be really fun! I was also invited to a Canadian Thanksgiving party by some really kool Canadian teachers that I met through work and I would love to attend but I don't want to pass up this country experience. I've celebrated Canadian thanksgiving all my life so I think it's OK to miss it once. So ya, here is to a WAAAAY better road trip, or at least WAAAY better company!