Winter in AUSTRALIA 2009-2

The weather in the winter was amazing so we squeezed in lots of outdoor activities on the weekends. We spent Canada Day weekend in Canberra visiting my friend Kalinda (she’s from Ottawa and her husband is in my class). She works at the Canadian Consulate and had organized the ‘Canada Day Fun Run’, so we thought it was a good excuse to visit the nation’s capital! We also visited the Canberra Zoo and went on a tour of the Australian parliament while we were there.
Pancakes with real imported maple syrup!

We actually celebrated Canada Day in Penrith too! My Canadian classmates had a party and BBQ at their place, so we were happy to celebrate again later that week. It was no Aunt Julie Canada Day party, but it will have to do until we move back home. : )
Our running route along the Nepean River
Our new didgeridoo... :)

Brent took me to a local Penrith restaurant, ‘Danny’s on High’, to celebrate our 6 month anniversary on July 3rd. It was a pretty hilarious place and the fluorescent lighting, tacky tables and foam chairs reminded me of a Lions Club or church basement from back home- but the food was great and it was ‘BYO’, so we still had a great time.I had a week off school in July, so Brent and I decided to take advantage of some winter specials around the city. We ended up spending a long weekend at ‘Q station’ which is the old Quarantine Station that has been refurbished and made into a museum/resort in between Manly beach and a national park. We had a great time there- spent some time at the beach, had some nice breakfasts, learned some history, enjoyed the weather and went on a ghost tour around the grounds at night.

We also spent a day around circular quay, had some fish and chips in the Botanical Gardens and went to see a magic show at the Opera House during my week off.