Some blue skies!!

I actually slept in today - until 8:30am!!!! WOOHOO!!! I then got up and went for my normal run. It was actually sunny and VERY warm, so I was sweating like a pig when I got back to the hostel. I smelt really bad too...I'm starting to realize that running/working out is hard to do when you are backpacking because you have limited places to go and your clothes smell really bad. We will have to figure that one out.

So since it was sunny, Rebecca, Matt, Cory and I headed to Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye) Beach. This trip required us to take a 15 minute train ride and a 10 minute bus ride to actually get to the beach. It made me realize how lucky I am to live 2 miles from the beach. I also was reminded how much I don't like the location of our hostel.

So it was sunny when we got on the train, but of course as soon as we got there, it clouded over and was cold. Luckily we had a few spurts of sun and warmth. OH MY, the sun is sooooo hot and strong here - I guess that is because Australia does not have an ozone layer over it. You see ads for skin cancer all over because it has become such a problem here. I did go in the water, but only to my calves because it was about as warm as the water in San Diego in the summer. It wasn't hot enough outside to go swimming, but it was an amazing beach. There were tons of people trying to surf and swim, so I think it was a good idea to stay on shore. Besides, we were warned not to swim right after it rains because all the jellyfish are swept to sea. We may go back there again when we get back later this week.

I got back to the hostel around 3:30pm and met Jane and Daniel at 4:30pm for the soccer game. What a match!! It ended in a 2-2 "Draw", but was a lot of fun. We met a group of Daniel's friends and the "Die Hard Fans" all around us made it an interesting evening. When we got there, the sun was out and I was soooooo hot, but about 10 minutes in to the second half, it started down pouring on us...then 15 minutes later, it was sunny and hot again. CRAZY AUSTRALIAN WEATHER!!! The soccer stadium is in a different part of town so it was nice to see some more areas of Sydney. The more I explore other areas, I realize how much "Central" sucks and if I were to stay here, I would have to move to one of the suburbs.

So crazy things at the soccer game (Pat would have totally enjoyed this!). #1: Melbourne lit 3 flares when their team scored (see pics). The security guards had to take the flares and put them out but not before the whole stadium was covered in smoke. AND...noone was kicked out. #2: You could make bets and the "Tab" window...yes, bet on the game right there. Like something you would see at the Del Mar horse races. #3: The fans are almost as crazy as the fans at a St. Louis Rams game or Green Bay game - and it's soccer!

I am back at the hostel now (obviously) and am doing laundry and packing since I will be leaving for the Blue Mountains tomorrow. It should be a lot of fun and will be nice to get out of the city. Well, gotta go get the laundry since the room closes and 10pm and I don't want my laundry stuck in there...