So caffeine is the only thing keeping me in the land of the living at this point. I just can't get that sleep at night, awake through the day thing goin' on. Apparently, when travelling the globe (as you do) in an easterly direction the jet lag is worse than the same distance going west. Huh? How does that work?! But it's true. One of those urban myths that seems to be not so mythological... so to speak... I'm TIRED, alright!
Have you heard the urban myth that if all residents of Brisbane shut their doors and left for 6 months Mother Nature would reclaim it? Well, that one's true too. After 5 weeks we came back to this...
I'm sure if we were gone for much longer there'd be a forest where the house used to be and the house reduced to some good quality mulch.
We've been looking through our photos and thinking through our amazing trip, that I was so pleased to share with you all. Our time away has taught me a few things, which I will now kindly share with you in a convenient bullet point list:
- No matter how much thought goes into packing there'll always be at least one item of clothing you won't wear and at least three items left at home that you should have brought.
- Children will NEVER be as excited about museums as you are.
- Europeans like front loading washing machines (in fact, my dear friend in Madrid tried to buy a big top loader and couldn't. Just couldn't). Front loading washing machines are more water efficient than top loaders BECAUSE THE RINSE CYCLE IS INEFFICIENT! You'd better like the smell of your detergent on your clothes all day, thats all I'm sayin'.
- When communication stops due to a language barrier a quick game of charades will always break the ice. For example, pointing one finger on each hand and putting them on each side of your head while saying 'Moooooo?' in a quizzical tone translates in Spanish to 'Ola Mr Butcher, is that cut of meat beef?' as opposed to, oh, say... pony.
- When babysitters are required, babysitters can be found. Thanks, Google.
- Everything in France is in French. Funny, that, but it's even hard to get tourist information in English.
- I should NEVER pack books for holidays, except Lonely Planet guides. Two novels accompanied me across the world and were never opened.
- A cafe au lait (yes, I did pronounce the 't' ONCE, v embarrassing) is no substitute for a good Aussie flat white. In fact Australia has the best coffee in the world and the best coffee in London is from cafes owned by Australians. Oi oi oi.
Speaking of coffee I'd better have another shot... or two.
Oh, and we've come back to winter in Brisbane. We haven't been this cold since, well, since last winter.
