Today I arrived in Sydney, back for a week of work (and a little pleasure). I try to get down here once a year, to catch up with old acquaintances and remind myself why Australia is just one of the best places on earth. Although I don't have family here, I lived in Sydney for about 15 years and always think of it as my home.
I never met an American who'd been to Sydney and hadn't fallen in love with the place and the people at first sight. Even in May, which is the middle of autumn here, the days are still warm and the nights refreshingly cool. It's hard to describe the excitement I felt as I got near. Even at the LA airport, I began to hear Aussie accents all around. I never noticed the accent of course before living in America, but now it sounds so fresh and sexy.
The news all over the radio here this morning was about Paula Abdul and some scandal with an American Idol contestant. I had to laugh. At least it wasn't about war or terror or some other disaster. Australians laugh at America and its celebrity culture. We love it of course, but we're just a bit cynical about everything. Americans often mistake this for a lack of seriousness. Which couldn't be further from the truth. We're a serious lot, it's just that we rarely take ourselves that seriously -- so it's easier to enjoy life.
I'm staying at this great little hotel in Darlinghurst, called the Kirketon. Very funky and classy. And close to everything - restaurants, shopping, gay nightlife, the harbour. Highly recommended. Right now I'm sitting in the lobby bar drinking a fabulous Sidecar (one of the better ones I've had) and nibbling on marinated olives and braised pork flank with tomatoes and something or other. As I often say to my partner Aaron, "very Nawth Shaww, dahhling".
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