So, What Were our Highlights...?

So after just over 4 weeks of travelling, we have finally arrived at Carlisle and started to get ourselves set up for the next 12 months.  Here are our highlights, in our own words, from the last month of travels:

Dougal: my favourite thing on our trip was California adventure land because I loved the roller coasters there.  My favourite ride was the California scream'in which is a realy big roller coaster wihich has a loop the loop and five  MASSIVE drops in it. I didn't really like Disneyland because it was a bit babyish but it had some all right rides like splash mountain where you're in a fake cut out log and u go through a mountain.   

 

Fergus:  My favourite parts of the holiday were San Francisco, Chicago and Anaheim. San Francisco because I loved going on the trolleys, whizzing around the city hanging off the edges and narrowly missing hoboes. My other favourite thing in San Francisco was Alcatraz because I think it's interesting that about a century ago Americas biggest criminals would have been in these cells.

I loved Anaheim because since I was little I have wanted to go to Disneyland but what I really enjoyed was California Adventure Land because the rides at Disneyland were a bit babyish (but still a bit fun).And Chicago because I liked the architecture, Museums and the free zoo in Lincoln Park which was great for a free Zoo. :P

 

Mum: I love the outdoors - both Yosemite NP and the Grand Canyon are highlights.  Out of those two, I would go with Yosemite.  You can't really compare them as they are so vastly different.  But I enjoyed being surrounded by lush green vegetation, the waterfalls & rivers that were overflowing with icy cold water, the wildlife (I wanted to see a bear, but I didn't!!!), spending quality time with Ben, Fergus & Dougal while hiking and the many different walks that are available for all levels of experience.  A truly invigorating and refreshing place!

Dad: It's pretty hard to go past Yosemite as the highlight for me although we have had so many terrific experiences over the past four weeks.  Yosemite just takes your breath away and it was just fantastic to be able to hike through some of that amazing countryside.  There's only a few places that really take your breath away when you first clap eyes on them - Gallipoli is one of them, a packed house at Suncorp before a test match is another, but Yosemite National Park would have to be added to the list in my view.

Arrival in Carlisle

Things look lovely here.  Carlisle has struck us as a very old town with links to the earliest days of US history (George Washington stayed at an inn here) and, of course, the civil war and Gettysburg in particular.  There are some lovely houses in the town and we are looking forward to moving in to our place later today.

The photo below is from our welcome to Carlisle from our sponsor families - local families who volunteer to look after international students over their 12 months on the course.  From left to right:
Hugh McHaslan: NZ student who has just finished the course.  Fi and I had met him and his wife, Mel, during our posting with UNTSO back in 1999. They have not changed a bit! (Apart from adding two children to their family!).
Shane Gabriel: The Australian student who has just finished the course.  He and his wife, Karli, have had a great time over here and Shane has just been promoted to Brigadier.
Russ Macaluso: Russ is an ENT specialist in Carlisle who has been involved with the Australian families for the past 3 years.  He and his wife, Jean, were wonderful hosts and have an amazing house - more like a small property with sheep, a barn, pool and yards. This photo was taken in his bar.

 

 

The photo below is of the girls.  From left to right:

Barbara Nieberg: Our other sponsor family.  Barb is married to Michael (who was away from Carlisle on this occasion) and has two daughters.

Mel McHaslan: Married to Hugh, the NZ student from the last course.

Karli Gabriel: Married to Shane and about to head back to Canberra.

Jean Macaluso: Married to Russ.

 

 

The photo below gives you an idea of some of the streets in Carlisle.  Quaint shops, tree lined streets and pretty easy to get around.



Sweet Home, Chicago!

 

 Almost everything about Chicago seems to have a bit of a funky edge to it - like these painted picture frames that have been placed at rakish angles in the gardens along Michigan Avenue.  Many of the gardens are just being planted so should be in full bloom by the time you get here Mum and Dad.









One of our first walks was down to Millennium Park.  This was a really cool public space just south of the Chicago River with a concert area and plenty of green parklands and art.


 

 These sculptures in the Park were done by Jun Kaneko.  The creature is a Tanuki figure, or 'raccoon dog', most commonly portrayed as a large, stout badger. 

 The Tanuki is considered to be a trickster who causes trouble and mayhem in both the human and supernatural worlds.

 The Tanuki has big eyes to perceive the environment and help make good decisions, a big belly that symbolises bold and calm decision making and a friendly smile!

 It was fund seeing the various reflections of people and the Chicago skyline in the Cloud Gate sculpture in AT&T Plaza.

Crown Fountain was a really funky part of the park.  Difference faces from Chicago city are projected onto the screen, and every five minutes or so, they spurt water from their mouths.

 Buckingham Fountain on the way to the Field Museum of Natural History.








The Field Museum was a real hit and was a great collection of natural history pieces, including the largest and most complete skeleton of a T-Rex (named Sue).

Sue - the largest and most complete
T-Rex skeleton ever found.

 Fergus' favourite building on the Chicago skyline, the Marina City.  These buildings were considered to be highly innovative when they were built in the 1960's by Bertrand Goldberg.









Dougal's favourite was Lake Point Tower, the only high rise to be constructed on the Eastern side of Lake Shore Drive.  Described as 'quintessential Chicago modernism, exuding braun with stunning grace'.

We all loved the Chicago Tribune building, which has inlaid around it's base artifacts from other famous buildings and structures, including a stone from The Alamo, Abraham Lincoln's Tomb, 'Injun Joe's Cave', the Great Wall of China...

The Sydney Opera House...

And the World Trade Centre from 2001.

Cycling the Golden Gate

 

 

30 kilometres on bikes taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, surfers (in pretty thick wet suits) under the bridge at Fort Point, the pretty village of Sausalito and finally on to Tiburon.  It was a magnificent day - sun shining, not much breeze and plenty of country side and iconic land marks to take in.




   

How hard can it be..."1, 2, 3, jump.."

Dougal had Fergus in a headlock
about 2 and a half seconds after
this photo was taken.

Crossing the bridge.  There were a group of surfers
 just below us here at Fort Point, catching some
2-3 foot waves in very thick wet suits!

Some old bloke at Sausalito had a parrot which Doogs happily put on his shoulder for the photo.

 After the ride (about 30km all up), Sam's Anchor café was a welcome respite for a late lunch / early dinner.  It was beautiful sitting out beside the Belvedere Harbour as the sun went down having some fresh calamari, fish and replacing lost fluids.  We caught the ferry back from Tiburon to San Francisco (a route that must be an idealic commute for many workers in San Francisco).

 

The beer of choice after
a days ride around the Frisco Bay!

As it turned out, there was a blues festival going on in the streets of Tiburon which made for a great afternoon.  The band was probably more country than Blues but it still made for a very pleasant conclusion to a fantastic outing.

 

Although it had been pretty warm through the day, the afternoon winds made it pretty fresh on the deck of the ferry.  Still, a quick outing on the top deck prevented the boys from going to sleep after a pretty long ride!

The San Francisco skyline as we head back on the ferry.

We had a bit of a wait for the ferry - which gave us an opportunity to get this photo of the sun setting over the bridge and Fishermans Wharf.  The bloke in the black jacket 2nd from the left - after 3 or 4 Fat Tires and a Napa Valley Sav Blanc at lunch, I accidentally grabbed his pony tail against the hand rail when I got back onto the trolley rail after taking this photo.  Took about 3 or four tugs of his head to make me realise what I'd done.  All I could do was let his hair go and apologise.  He was OK about it - might encourage him to keep his hair at a manageable length!

More glorious food

The Beach Chalet, near Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
After a 6km  through the Golden Gate Park we had developed a hearty appetite for lunch! On the advice of the man who rented us the bikes, we pulled into The Beach Chalet which overlooks the Pacific Ocean & serves a mean lunch.  Both boys enjoyed burgers ( they reckon the Americans are pretty good at making burgers!), I thoroughly enjoyed crispy & spicy calamari (I just have to mention the batter, it was sooooo good, light & crispy to a tee - everything was battered including the thinly sliced lemon pieces & chilli flakes - yummy!), Ben enjoyed muscles served with chorizo & fresh bread.  The service was very good & the location 10/10.  The 6km return bike ride was predominantly uphill!!!!!  (Have we mentioned how hilly San Fran is???).

Sam's Anchor Cafe, Tiburon, San Francisco
Another bike ride = 30km (took us about 6 hours with a few sight seeing stops). The bike ride commenced from The Wharf, San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, an easy cruise into Sausalito (people relate it to being similar to a seaside village in the French Riviera - I could agree), we all enjoyed delicious Italian ice creams at Sausalito. Then a long ride around the edge of the bay to Tiburon (another seaside village).  We were on a mission to end up at Sam's Anchor Cafe for a refreshment & food stop. I guess we arrived there at 4:30pm, weary, thirsty & hungry! So we had an early dinner, sitting outside by the water's edge.  It was a beautiful warm sunny afternoon. The boys devoured their very fresh fish 'n chips, Ben enjoyed Penne with fresh crab meat & I had the special of the day - grilled Flounder served on a bed of mixed green beans and corn with a dash of lemon sauce - YUM!!!! Other than the food - Ben also enjoyed a couple of Fat Tire beers!!!!! As we stepped outside the cafe, there was a street party with a band playing a few "family orientated" tunes, kiddies dancing, parents enjoying beer & wine. A fantastic atmosphere on a Friday arvo in Tiburon.  It would have been fun to stay longer but we had a ferry to catch and bikes to return before 8pm!!!

Shoeless Joe's Sports Bar, O'Hare, Chicago
This place was adorned with television screens - Dougal counted 35!!!! Everyone was in good spirits as the Chicago Blackhawks (ice skating) had a win today! We were after a quick dinner (our flight from San Francisco was delayed by 1 hour - what is it with United Airlines???? And they damaged my suitcase grrrrrr). Shoeless Joe's turned out to be a winner. Again, the boys gave the burgers a thumbs up especially the super soft buns, I devoured my 3 BBQ pork sliders - the shredded pork was tender & full of flavour & the mini buns super soft - YUMMO!!!.  There was so much sport to watch - ice hockey, baseball, basketball.  The boys were surprised to see the American's playing Seven's rugby being televised - albeit on one of the smaller screens!