The opening ceremony

[David Wilson]

G'day,
What did you think of the opening ceremony in Sydney? I know that the timing is not great for many of you; most Americans and Canadians would have been in bed, at least normally at that time, and the Brits and Europeans would have been just starting a working day. It was even a bit late for our friends in New Zealand. But then we always have problems when you guys have events.
Anyway, I hoped you liked it - we did!
It's Saturday afternoon in Sydney (12.50pm) and the TV is running hot. In fact I'm heading back to it now.
Regards
David

[Shwing]

Dave, didn't get a chance to see it, for the very reason you state. It is a 17 hour time difference from here to Sydney...

I was in Calgary during the '88 Winter Olympics. Great time. My youngest brother raised the flag of New Zealand at the opening ceremonies, and dad was responsible for the releasing of all the balloons.

I unfortunately was out on maneouvers in the field, and missed out, though we did see the flypast of the jets.

Anyway, see as many events as you can, as it is a once in a lifetime experience.

I have several cousins in Sydney, and can't wait for an update.

Shwing;-}

[JennyP]

Hi David!
Thanks to the wonders of video tape, I got to see the opening ceremony around 11pm, EDST, here in TN, USA. Hey, fabulous effects with the pictures on the large field of fabric, and with the torch and waterfall too! I was especially impressed that the idea of the 100th anniversary of women athletes in the games was expressed by the choice of torch bearers and the final bearer being an athlete of aboriginal ethnic heritage. I look forward to watching as much as I can, and taping as many events as possible to view later. (Maybe daughter and I can watch aussie games when my hubby :rolleyes: is glued to the network football games in the other room!!) Have fun everyone ;)
jP

[Clive Noble]

Amazing ceremony David, but the final effects of flames, water and the flying saucer taking off were just stunning, I'm still trying to work out how the saucer was lifted up the ramp.

Hopefully the games will be just as good.

Best wishes, Clive

[David Wilson]

Thanks (I say as though I had something to do with it). It's a great place to be at the moment, though. And everthing is going smootly (as I reach out to touch some wood),including the transportation despite one or two odd reports on some world media. How they worked the 'flying saucer' is a mystery to me too Clive. And I agree, Jenny, it was great to see our female athletes honoured, they have certainly provided us with a lot of medals over the years. Hopefully Cathy Freeman, who lit the cauldron, may do it in these games (she is the current world champion in the 400metres). Oh, and Shwing, you've really got to get a tape of the ceremony. Anyway, enjoy the games. I'm off to watch some more.
Regards
David

[This message has been edited by David Wilson (edited 09-16-2000).]

[Christine]

Hi David,

I watched the opening ceremonies. It was beautiful and I remember the footpath going along the harbor, as I was there 4 years ago for 2 months staying with my relatives.
And the Opera House also. Nothing on television or any photograph could replace the beauty of seeing this magnificent sight in person [Sydney harbor]. It honestly took my breath away! That is a wonderful place to hold the Olympics. The long flight is worth every second and I liked the Australian airline, Qantas Airways, absolutely beautiful.
I have a whole family there.
By the way; have you ever been to Leichhardt to Galletta's Bar? It is a coffee bar and restaurant. That is my cousin. Stop by and say hello! The food is excellent. All of the visitors from everywhere I am sure will enjoy the fabulous restaurants there. What a treat for anyone. I was really wined and dined there constantly. Wish I were there in person for this event; really makes me sad that I am not! Just remember to wear your Sunnies and your costume at the beach.

Christine

[David Wilson]

Hi Christine,
I'm glad you liked it here. Yes I have been to Leichhardt several time, it has a reputation for great Italian restaurants. I may well have been to your cousin's restaurant but I'll make a point of seeking it out.
I note that you're from Pennsylvania. A nice state, in fact it's my wife's favourite (Lancaster County to be more specific). We'll be passing through Lancaster (yet again, I must say I get a bit tired of quilts) around Christmas.
Regards
David

[Christine]

Hi David,

Yes Lancaster county is really nice and yes quilts galore, [a bit too quaint for me actually] but the countryside is very nice.
Yes and I also liked the Australian people, very warm and friendly. Yes, my cousins restaurant is or was the busiest on the strip when I was there. I wanted to stay for a year actually. I want to go back to Australia. Have you been to Frattini, a Calabrese style Italian restaurant in Leichhardt? Oh fabulous! My cousin's friend owns it. And we dined at the Imperial Peking in the harbor. I just couldn't get over the quality of the food. It is so fresh and when I would shop in the vegetable and fruit markets, I couldn't get over the size of the fruits and vegetables. I felt as though I was in a science fiction movie. I have relatives in Cronulla Beach, Campsie, Earlwood, Leichhardt, Pymble, Woolengong and I actually forgot a few other towns. My cousin owns some land in the Hunter Valley, wine country. If you go to the restaurant, ask for John. Oh I went south around Canberra to some really nice beach towns also and stayed on a huge 400 acre ranch for a few days. I also love Cronulla Beach, could live there.

Christine

[Pete Hanlin]

David,
I grew up near Lancaster (between Harrisburg and Hershey)... Without a doubt, Pennsylvania is by far the most beautiful state in the Union (that's me just being completely objective ;) ), so if you've seen Pennsylvania, you've seen it all! :D

If you really want to see the Amish in their own element (though it sounds like you've seen quite enough of them), drive about 15 minutes north to a little town called Leola... you'll see lots of windmills (they use them to pull water out of the wells) and absolutely no power lines- at least you can get some good "tucker" there (I believe that's the expression my friend from Australia uses for good food). Italian food is palatable, but nothing beats turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie on a chilly Fall day if you ask me.

If you are going to be in Central Pennsylvania anyway, be sure to stop by Hershey to check out the chocolate factory and then over to Gettysburg (one of the national battlefields commemorating the War Between the States). Then there's Valley Forge and Philadelphia (the U.S. coin mint there is kinda neat). Philadelphia is also the only place in the world to get a REAL cheesesteak! Oh well, I'm sure you have better things to do than tramp around Pennsylvania while you're over here (although in about four to five weeks, Penna should be really beautiful with the changing leaves)- I just really like my home state!

BTW, my Aussie friend always said the only good road in Sydney was the one that went to Melbourne... what's with that??? ;)

Pete

[David Wilson]

Wow, Christine, this is getting spooky. I live in Pymble! And yes, I have been to Frattinis.

Pete, 'tucker' is pretty good, we'll have you speaking Aussie yet (and by the way it is pronounced Ozzie). Your Melbourne friend has got it wrong. We Sydneysiders have always said that the best thing in Melbourne is the road leading to Sydney (I guess not everyone can be creative). No doubt you have spotted the intercity rivalry here.
Regards
David

[Shwing]

F.Y.I., we have a similar rivalry in Alberta. It is generally called the "Battle of Alberta", and any hockey fan of the '80's will remember it...

While I do live in Edmonton (the provincial capital), I sorta call Calgary home.

The best one I have heard yet, (and still agree with) is actually a variation of your above statement, Dave.

It goes like this:

Q: What is the best thing to come out of Edmonton??

(The Edmontonian is now thinking Wayne Gretzky, oil, being the capital, etc...)

A: The number 2, Southbound...

(highway #2 connects Edmonton in the North with Calgary in the south of the province...)

'Nuf said.

Shwing;-}

[Darris Chambless]

Hi Gang,

I figured I'd share my "Ozzie" lingo or "Strine" as we like to call it. Jumbuck-sheep, Chook-chicken, Billibong-watering hole, Tote'n Matilda-carrying a napsack, walk about-extended geographical research ;-), Ga'Day-Ga'Day, Fare Dinkum-Doing fine.

That's about all I know in "strine", but if you want to learn Texan I'm the guy to talk to :-) None of that watered down, Hollywood, panty waist Texan want to be crap either :-)

I'm enjoying the Gymnastics even though the US ain't doin' too good. China is kicking some serious butt though. My wife was watching these athletes still doing their routines with injuries and just couldn't understand how they could do it. Many years and a few pounds ago I was a gymnast in high school and I told her about the time I broke my toe by catching it on the pommel of the pommel horse (I came in just a bit too low :-) and still finished my set on floor. I told her that when you're that young you're ten feet tall and made of iron plus I had to finish for the team scoring on compulsory not to mention my grade. It isn't until you get a little older that you look back on it and think of how stupid it was to do so.

Oh well. Enjoy the rest of the Olympics.

Darris "I'm feelin' it in my bones these days" Chambless

[Christine]

Hi David,

Frattini is Calabrese cuisine, and is my heritage. I went there for my aunts birthday party and the food was excellent and the restaurant I loved.

Yes my cousin lived in Killara also[I don't know if I spelled this Killara the right way] but it is really beautiful there. Pymble is quite beautiful, I must say. My cousin also had a trotter [race horse]and I am going back to maybe 10 years ago which was the finest in all of Australia and he has the gold cup to prove it.He sold it for 1 million dollars. The horse's name was "Don't Retreat". But I saw the photos of the horse and believe me, it was a magnificent animal. He breeds them and has bred some real champions.
My other cousin has a photo lab [a girl] called "Super Hot Shots Photo Lab" on Anzac Parade in Kensington. Her sister is C.P.A. who worked in Sydney for a big firm.
My cousin's coffee bar has the best Caffe Latte I have ever had. They named me the caffeine addict because I drank too much of that coffee when I was there.
That is my beautiful family and I love them all.
Well, my bush walk didn't last long because it was all up hill and I thought I would have a heart attack [ I thought bush walks were on flat terrain]!
Who invented Vegamite? That is the only thing I didn't like. :cool:

Christine

[This message has been edited by Christine (edited 09-20-2000).]

[David Wilson]

Darris, I'm impressed with your grasp of our lingo and I'm sure that you pronounce Aussie as ozzie and not ossie like many of your countryfolk. The gymnastics is great but it's never been one of our strong suits either. Swimming is our strength (and we don't do too bad for a country of only 18 million). Sorry, had to get in some of the nationalism that is pretty strong over here at the moment.
Christine, Killara is right. Your knowledge of Sydney suburbs is almost as impressives as Darris's language skills. Incidentally, that great Aussie icon that you are not too thrilled with, Vegemite, is now owned by an American company, Kraft. Antway, I like it (it is an acquired taste, though, a bit like the British Marmite).
Regards
David

[Christine]

Well I saw many American made food items in the grocery stores; everything. Vegemite has some good nutritional value, doesn't it?
I liked the fish and chips and especially the chips. The seafood can't be beat; especially the salmon. I have never had salmon so delicious. I passed on the octupus. I couldn't stand to look into it's eyes on the plate and then devour it. Never did get to eat a bay bug, but did get to eat the giant shrimp, and enjoyed some good food off the Barbie! Loved the board walk at Cronulla Beach and the fabulous giant palms.
And all the terra cotta work everywhere, just absolutely beautiful. I never saw grapes as huge as I did when I was there. I was served some grapes and I thought that they were plums. And the Australian wines are superb. Oh another place Archs Cafe in Sydney. Know of it? My cousin owned that also. No one would let me drive. They thought I would kill myself. I was very confused crossing the highways by foot because the direction of the car is opposite.
Still watching the Olympics!

Christine

[This message has been edited by Christine (edited 09-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Christine (edited 09-21-2000).]