"Born to Run"

I pretty much retired my running sneakers in 2001 after four years of high school cross country and spring track.  I traded them in for the love of zumba.  But in September 2012 I started running again.  This was all so I could train to take part in the world’s largest road race.  The Sun Herald City to Surf has 85,000 registered participants to make it the largest race in the entire world.  Committing to race in this 14km race known for its “heart break hill”  meant committing to a rigorous training schedule.  

Run across the Anzac Bridge - Me, Rachel, and Wendy

In the months leading up to this August race the girls and I ran regularly on Saturday’s or Sunday’s.  Our routes ranged from running through the beautiful eastern suburbs, running over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in the stunning Harbour views while running through the Botanical Gardens and around Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, across the Anzac Bridge and running through Hyde Park and down to Circular Quay.  Wendy, Emily, and I also met fairly regularly at 6:15 in the morning before work to run the Walsh Bay Finger Wharfs or run through Darling Harbour to make sure that “there was a little more exercise and a little less e-mails!”  Running through this beautiful city and past beautiful scenery makes me fall more in love with this city everyday.  

Lovely Expats Before City to Surf in Hyde Park

August 11^th finally came and it was a picture perfect day for City to Surf.  The race started adjacent to Hyde Park in the City racing up towards the Coke Sign in Kings Cross.  The race hugged the coast on New South Head Road past Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Rose Bay, and Watson’s Bay before continuing on Military Road to end at Bondi Beach.  At about the 6km mark heart break hill began on New South Head Road and for one kilometer the race was straight uphill – the famous landmark of the race!  It was such a fun day and already looking forward to the race next year.

We survived heart break hill and made it to Bondi!

About a month later on September 22^nd was the Blackmores Sydney Harbour Bridge Run. 

Wendy, Aimee, Me,and Emily under the Harbour Bridge before the race

This was a 9km race where the bridge was closed and we could run across it – absolutely stunning.  The race also ran by Hyde Park and through the Botanical Gardens allowing you to catch stunning glimpses of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge at various points. It was another fabulous day but an extremely hot one!  

I don't think you could ask for a better view at the finish!

Running has become a new regular in my life now and it is probably made easier and more fun because of the support and encouragement of fabulous running buddies.  Now to look forward to our next race in November – the Electric Run!

Photos courtesy of Emily - thanks!

Birthdays Down Under

Giovanni's

EisnerAmper Secondees

My first birthday in Australia was in July 2011.  I had been in Sydney for a mere 17 days for my three month secondment by the time my birthday came around.  I had known my fellow secondees from NYC, Brazil, and Germany for less than three weeks at this point but nonetheless they made sure my 28^th birthday was special.  We went to Giovanni’s for dinner which is an Italian restaurant near Circular Quay.  They also surprised me with a box of cupcakes!  To round out the birthday weekend we went to our first rugby game at the Olympic stadium to see the Qantas Wallabies play a team from South Africa.  

Winery

Sparkle Cupcakery

Who would have thought a year later I would then celebrate my 29^th birthday in Australia-this time because I came back here for a permanent position!  Since this was round two I had some friends from work from my  previous secondment so I organized a small birthday dinner at the Winery in Surry Hills which was delicious and delightful.  However earlier that day I met one of my now closest friends but had no idea at that point that a life long friendship would form on that day.  There is a US Expat website to connect people from the US living in Sydney.  There was this one girl on there that said she just moved to Sydney as an auditor and I was like what a coincidence!  I decided to message her since we were both in the same boat.  It just so happened that the day that worked for us to meet was my birthday but she didn’t know that at the time.  So we met for lunch and when it came out that it was my birthday we went to Sparkle Cupcakery for cupcakes and hot chocolate!    Fast forward one year later to July 2013 – who needs a professional cupcakery for birthday treats when you have a great fellow auditor friend who can make brownies from scratch for you and carry them around Sydney from venue to venue in Tupperware!

Three years ago I had never dreamed there would be even the slightest possibility that I’d spend my 30^th birthday in Australia too – but it is about to happen.  Because of the US Expat website, my friendship with Wendy and all of her connections, and work connections I now have friends from about 9 different US States and 7 different countries (I think I’ve got everyone accounted for but please don’t audit those numbers!)  And because of all of these fantastic people I’ve just had a fantastic birthday weekend.  It started on Friday afternoon after work with a fantastic dinner at a steakhouse followed by breathtaking views of all of Sydney’s sights from the rotating O Bar in Australia Square.  Despite being a little dizzy from the rotating floor – the views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge were as fantastic as ever!  Then on Saturday Wendy, Emily and I had a lovely dinner at Café Sydney taking in more views of iconic Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 

Cafe Sydney with Wendy and Emily

Dinner was followed by a meeting of the United Nations at the Opera Bar.  There was representation from three continents across seven countries!  When I look at this I realize yet again how lucky I am to have this incredible adventure and experience and to have friends who organize such adventures!  When it got too cold to be outside any longer (since my birthday is now in Winter!) our party moved inside to a random place on King Street Wharf near our home.  On Sunday morning Wendy and Emily had me over to blow out my candles on their delicious homemade brownies as it was too windy to do that last night at the Opera Bar, yet Happy Birthday was still sang to me in public on Saturday night!  Truly blessed with fantastic friends here that always make sure everyone gets something special for their special day!

 

 

Mom's work for my 29th birthday at home before I left for Sydney

My mom always makes our favourite dinner and dessert for our birthdays and she always did mine earlier for me the past two years since I wouldn’t be home for my birthday.  So to stick with tradition I made a carbon copy of everything she makes me today so I can eat it for my actual birthday tomorrow.  Chicken pesto pasta over spinach penne followed by a chocolate raspberry tart!  Now for the first time in 30 years I have to go to work on my special day since my birthday now falls in busy season down under so  I just need 7.5 hours of work out in Blacktown to go fast so I can eat my favourite dishes!

I hope this all tastes as good as Mom's!

 

Northern Territory

My winter vacation began with a five day trip to the Northern Territory with mom and dad.  We stayed at the Quest Palmerston.   As the flight from Sydney is almost five hours, by the time we landed and checked in and familiarized ourselves with the area it was time for dinner.  As we were staying in Palmerston and not in the centre city of Darwin eating options were limited.  Our options consisted of Hungry Joes Pizza, the Hogs Breathe Café, ThaiChinese, or Salt n Peppa.  The last option seemed the most promising.  However it was a challenge to find the restaurant as the map given to us was not drawn to scale by any means.  Once we found it- it was perfect.  A very small and cute café – generous portions and delicious barramundi!   It did not disappoint.  http://www.saltnpeppa.com.au/feedback/

On our first full day in the Northern Territory we took a bus from Palmerston into Darwin.  Our main activity for the day was the “Hop on Hop off” bus tour.  We hopped off at the art museum, the waterfront, and the Mindl Beach markets.  The highlight of the Mindl Beach markets was the sunset at the beach which set over the ocean – stunning views! 

At the art museum we learnt that there were two main defining events in Darwin.  They were the World War II bombings and then the Christmas morning cyclone in 1974.  

 

On Monday we took a day trip to Katherine Gorge with AAT Kings.  Our first stop was the Adelaide River War Memorial.  After a quick stop we made our way to Emerald Springs which was a trucker’s roadside stop where we got breakfast.  It was here we first learned about Road Trains.  Road Trains are tracker trailers that carry freight that can trail as many as four trailers!   After breakfast we went to Edith Falls for a small hike.  Our next stop was the Katherine Gorge river cruise where we cruised through the beautiful sandstone cliffs.  On our way back to Palmerston we stopped back at the truck stop in Emerald Springs for some dinner.  We watched a modern Australian film for the rest of the way home – Red Dog – great movie! 

We spent the next day biking around Darwin.  We biked from centre city through Cullen Bay and then back to the Museum Café for lunch.  We biked back through Little Mindl Beach before returning back to Darwin.  Since Salt n Peppa was so good we went back there for dinner and it was excellent again!

After returning the bikes we decided going back to Salt n Pepper would be a better dinner option than anything in Darwin.  We felt we pretty much exhausted Darwin.   On our walk home we spotted the Southern Cross star constellation and it was beautiful!

On Wednesday we had our second NT excursion with AAT Kings.  This time we went to Kakadu National Park.  Our first stop was a portion of the park that had lots of aboriginal rock art to look at.  It was from 60,000 years ago.   We then had a buffet lunch at a random resort in the middle of nowhere in Kakadu. 

The afternoon attraction was a cruise on the Yellow River Billabong.  The hope was to see some wildlife.  Did we ever.  We immediately got excited about seeing a small croc on the banks.  Our guide pointed out all sorts of wildlife – including birds, fish, and dragonflies.  Then we saw the big boy.  A gigantic salt water croc. 

He was basking in the sun!  In total we probably saw about half a dozen different crocs.  We finished the day at the Aboriginal Cultural Museum before heading back to Palmerston for a quick dinner at the Hogs Breath Café to watch game two of State of Origin.  Unfortunately New South Wales lost to Queensland in this second of a three game series.  And that concludes our Northern Territory Adventures – it was quite enjoyable!  Queensland adventures to follow….

Kangaroo Valley

For the Queen’s Birthday long weekend we decided to go to Kangaroo Valley which is just over two hours south of Sydney.   We left Friday after work and decided to stop in Mittagong for dinner.  We stopped at Esco Pazza a little Italian restaurant.  It reminded me so much of Squan Tavern at home.  The food was delicious and after dinner we continued on our way to Kangaroo Valley. 

 

Since we arrived quite late we had to collect our keys via the after hour key collection option.  Well that was quite an adventure.  The directions we received to pick up the keys were like a clue you would receive on the Amazing Race.  They read something like this : “ Facing the Friendly Inn Hotel, walk past the Nostalgia Factory shop and walk to the back of the car park and turn left in front of the Nursery.  You will then locate a verandah at the back of the building and you should walk up those stairs.  Next to the stairs are two electricity meter boxes which will contain the envelope with your keys”.  Now mind you we are in the middle of nowhere so it is pitch black so this key collection was only made possible with the assistance of a torch (a flash light for my North American readers)! Once we secured the keys we made our way to the Sweet Gum House- our holiday home for the weekend.  

We were welcomed with open arms by two to three frogs in the toilet!  Four city girls plus frogs in the house equals screaming and laughing and a call to the after hour emergency line which was useless.  They told us to catch the frogs in a plastic bag.  However, the frogs seem to have disappeared on their own, but it was quite the entertaining start to the weekend.  Once we got over the frog situation, it was time for Emily to blow out her birthday candles for her first Australian birthday!

Our adventure on Saturday involved a bike ride through the beautiful Kangaroo Valley.  The Tour de Kangaroo Valley was approximately 28 kilometers per the man at the bike rental shop.  Throughout our bike ride we saw a plethora of cows but no wombats even though there were wombat crossing signs galore.  There was one kangaroo sighting from afar but nothing clear and distinct.  After our bike ride we just relaxed and played Skip-bo – a card game.  We made a nice pasta dish for dinner and watched Chocolat.  

Who knew that the Shoalhaven  Coast Winter Wine Festival was happening this weekend!  We meandered around four wineries on Sunday before driving back to Kangaroo Valley taking in the beautiful sunset.  Sunday evening was spent playing Monopoly and going out to a nice dinner!  Congrats to Maria on building a monopoly!  

To break up the drive back to Sydney we stopped in Wollongong at one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Southern Hemisphere.  After touring around the temple grounds we treated ourselves to a little waffle and ice cream dessert at Sugar Cube.  And it was delicious or as the sign on the wall said…”Wafflelicious!” 

And by the time we got back to Sydney dusk was approaching and it was the last night of Vivid Sydney.  So to cap off an already wonderful weekend I just had to see Vivid in action one more time at the bridge and Opera House!