Happy New Year!

(Sam free*, boo to that), I participated in a Sydney NYE tradition- sitting in the sun all day to get a view of the Harbour Bridge fireworks. It's the Bridge's 75th [Diamond] Anniversary and the theme was "Emerald City". It wasn't as stressful as it could have been nor as luxurious. I mean, some people got there at the break of dawn and brought coolers, tents, chairs and nice blankets! I just went down there alone and chilled out for a few hours before friends Tim and Marie joined me. I made friends with a lovely British family (they were in town for The Ashes), and we took turns watching each others bags and stuff while we went on water/food/potty runs. I got so much mixed advice about my plan to sit there. A lot of people told me to just go there at 11:55 pm and get in then. There was a lot of planning and security this year, so I am pleased with my decision to head down early. However, there was some drama. People coming in late thought it was totally acceptable to wedge their way into areas that looked "empty" (aka people standing up and not sitting on their blankets). I had to yell at a couple of rather rude revelers, but all was well in the end when those bursts of color lit up the sky above and around us. As luck would have it, some girls from Seattle sat in front of us! They heard our accents and next thing you know, we are mentioning names and places to each other. (Shout out to Sidney and Shannon...)

the scene at Circular Quay around 5:00 pm

After the fireworks, the party continued on the Rocks. We found a block party choc full of The Barmy Army chanting, and people just looking to have a good time. It was a fun scene, and everyone was behaving, which made it even better. If you are ever in the area for NYE, I highly suggest heading to the corner of George and Argyle Street. Insta-afterparty.

Ryan and I finally got home around 4 am. You know those horror movies where someone is running away from the killer and they've hurt themselves, but keep running with their bum leg dragging behind them? That was me at 4 am, at the train station. So tired...but it was all worth it. I come home in 23 days!!

Well, Happy 2007 to everyone! More pictures and video of the celebrations to come....

* For those of you who haven't met him- Sam is one of my oldest friends from Chicago. We have spent 7 of the past 10 NYE nights together. So it's weird to party w/o him.