Turns out we came up with twelve. Thanks to Australia for being a good sport and providing a laugh in addition to being a warm, inviting and hospitable host!
12. It's 1995 here are far as consumer spender is considered. Lots of places won't accept credit cards if you spend less than $20, some don't accept them at all and many charge a surcharge for using them.
11. Cheddar cheese is called Tasty here. You can get Mild Tasty, Extra Tasty or even Vintage Tasty, but they don't sell orange cheese here.
10. Bats are the size of eagles - seriously, their wingspan is a metre wide. Like clockwork, they descend upon the city at dusk. It's horrifying and a little fascinating!
9. Australians have a short form for almost everything (ie. arvo = afternoon, prezzie = present, rego = registered).
8. They are coffee connoisseurs - no burned drip here, only made to order espresso, called long black or flat white.
7. The country stops - in the state of Victoria it is actually a stat holiday - for the Melbourne Cup, which is a horse race. Maybe it's so popular because Australians are apparently huge gamblers. I have noticed betting outlets on almost every block...
6. Banana bread is their version of a donut. You can find coffee and banana bread deals at pretty much every café and bakery.
5. Australians love fireworks. Not a week has gone by without a firework display since we arrived.
4. In Sydney, you're more likely to meet an import or foreigner than you are to meet someone from Sydney.
3. Canadians can enter Australia without the immigration officer asking a single question of them (or at least, we did).
2.You can walk onto a domestic flight without ever showing a piece of I.D.
1. However, you can't get into the Cockatoo Island bar without having your bag meticulously searched by the hostess. Apparently alcohol smuggling is a much bigger issue in Australia than terrorism or identity fraud!
Paul and I arrived in Hobart with a very ambitious and packed 3 day schedule. Unfortunately, we landed amid rain and fog, so had to make some quick recalculations! We spent the first morning in Hobart, then traveled to the east coast and the highly anticipated Wineglass Bay. Unfortunately, there too we were met with heavy rain and thick fog, so abandoned our planned hour-long hike and settled for a few quick coastal lookouts, which were still lovely. Luckily, Cradle Mountain National Park was much kinder to us. During our 24 hour stay, we saw at least 4 wombats and countless wallabies, including the cutest little mini ones! We also squeezed in a scenic trek our second afternoon and a true bush-walk our last morning. As we were making our way up to the summit of Marion's Lookout, climbing up steep steps and uneven rock face, I was reminded of the time we drove up Mount Washington and took a picture at the summit in our flip-flops! We actually earned this picture!
