Australia Day 4 (Sydney)

The one thing I regret not being able to do with Karen in New Zealand or throughout the city in Sydney? Run. But after my little fainting episode and recent breathing issues, I figured it probably wouldn't be wise to run without a cell phone in a foreign country. I still tried to do little spurts here and there with Ryan just to remind my ticker that I was still alive. :-) Here we are running through Hyde Park on our way to the Hyde Park Barrack Museums (if you're not already aware...Australia started off as a place where the Brits shipped off their convicts). 

Hyde Park Barrack Museum...former housing for the convicts and their families.

A convict's child. He was sorta cute, but I don't consort with little vermin.

Turns out, I'm great at flogging prisoners (not the political/innocent ones, the kinds that question their wives authority).

I really hope he forgets how comfortable and warm those prison beds were.

I was clearly born in the wrong era.

The convict bedding on the top floor...couldn't imagine sleeping in them all night, they were so tiny. I've never been called skinny or tall once in my life, but I barely fit the height or length.

We also spent two days at the main bay in Circular Quay, and another two days chilling out in the Darling Harbor area.

This panoramic pic doesn't show how gorgeous Darling Harbor was- it seemed a lot more 'commercial' in a sense, but it has an incredibly long boardwalk that wraps around the harbor, filled w/ attractions, restaurants and shops.

Our first koala encounter

We spent two hours, two days in a row at this playground (Tumbalong in Darling Harbor), touted as one of the country's best...and we have to admit it was the best we've ever seen in our lives.

Feeding the seagulls (bread is mid air). A thrill for Big Island kids...since we have none.

On our first visit to the park, we had no idea about the water features. So we gladly gave Ryan permission to get wet, but he wasn't into it. About thirty minutes later, even he couldn't resist. He suddenly plopped to the ground with a huge smile on his face.

The water park was amazing...it had a series of canals that you could float things down and manipulate the strength/direction of the water.

So...not the most sanitary thing I've ever done (lifting up the barrier to let the water gush all over my son's head), but that's what he asked for! :-)