Gillian's Vacation in Oz

I picked Gillian up at the Austin airport Saturday for her December visit. She'd just returned from her visit with David and Amy and told me I could post some of her pictures from the trip. So, the following pictures were taken by either Gillian, David, or Amy. I'll offer brief, incisive comments (as usual) for your edification.

The cockatoo above  dropped by Dave and Amy's apartment for a snack. Such visits are not unusual.

Dave and Gillian took off for a drive up the coast where Gillian took the ferry across the mouth of the Hawkesbury River from Palm Beach, past Barrenjoey Head and Lion Island to Umina Beach to visit with her great aunt Christine and great uncle Bob. Then Dave returned the next day to pick her up at the ferry. These pictures were taken at at the Marine Park overlook on the way back to Manly.

Several years ago, when Gillian graduated from high school and Sally took her to Japan, Sally bought Dave a pair of shakuhachi (traditional Japanese bamboo flutes). He was apparently pleased; Gillian says he "takes it everywhere". That includes to the Japanese gardens in Wellington, where Dave and Gillian went to visit their grandmother. Here, Dave is charming the koi a la the Pied Piper.

The pictures of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge were taken at the end of Gillian's trip when Gillian, Dave, and Amy spent the day wandering about the The Rocks and Sydney Cove areas of the city.

These last two are back at the apartment in Manly that last day before Gillian flew home. Above, Amy got this shot of Dave and Gillian on the balcony near sunset. Below, they were sharing bread and honey with another avian visitor - this one a Rainbow Lorikeet. They don't get much brighter than this. . .