We made it DOWN UNDER!!!



Downtown Melbourne

Unfortunately I was not able to get internet access until we made it to the Arbon Office a day and a half after we got here. But we're here and enjoying the Australian summer.

The flight was about as comfortable and enjoyable as you might imagine a 14 hour flight would be. I tried to take pictures of everone dozing off, but I don't think the other sleeping passengers would have appreciated my camera flashes...

After the finally landing, going through immigration, locating our luggage, going through customs and passing the dog's inspection for illegal food and drugs... we met up with our Australian host... the incomparable Glenn Ford and his lovely wife, Beverly. If I had been in the right frame of mind at the time, I would have taken a picture of them.



In any event we made it to the hotel at long last (survived riding on the wrong side of the road, thank goodness!) Nothing ever looked so wonderful as this....

So... comfy... must... resist...

But it was temptation we had to resist as it was only 1pm and we had to stay awake as long as possible. Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of EST... So we left on Friday, skipped Saturday altogether, and arrived on Sunday.

We resisted the urge to sleep and went exploring. Kelly and I went to find markets and see the sights while Tom, Dave and Marc discovered just the bar they were looking for. Kelly and I didn't quite find the markets we were looking for (yet! I'll find them, for sure!) so we found the guys and enjoyed a beer with our Australian colleague Lee Lorenc and his dear wife, Bridgit.



Melbourne is BEAUTIFUL!



A much needed drink after the long journey

It's a great river city

 It was hard to stay awake for long. Everyone looks a little tired, a little delirious, a little out in space. Marc was probably asleep behind those shades.



Dinner was practically sleep eating... We hit the hay before 9pm!!!

Monday was to work with the whole Arbon Australia crew.... A good looking bunch

Lee enthralling the crowd

There was a TEST!!

The whole team... We make this look GOOD

After work was dinner. Dinner for 25. It was a tight squeeze, but the food was good and the company was even better. What a great group of people!



After dinner we did some night exploring... and wandered into the casino. I snapped a quick pick before being told off by security about no pictures. So just the one to see...



After the casino... it was off to bed! Work in the morning.

So there's the first day and a half Down Under. So far, we're LOVING IT. It has been full of great fun, amazing sights and spectacular people.

I'll post more soon! There are more adventures to be had in this wonderful country.