Australia!

Since we were little kids, we've both wanted to go to Australia. The Outback, the kangaroos, the funny accent; All of it seemed foreign and very cool. Now that we're finally in Australia, it is indeed very cool (no kangaroos yet, though). But it's also surprisingly familiar. We've been in Melbourne for a couple of days, mostly wandering around town, recovering from jet lag and a 30-hour journey, and replacing broken camping gear. And in those wanderings, the place has grown on us. It's kind of like Boston or San Fran, but more laid back, and with beaches and very expensive beer ($25 per 6-pack, thanks to very high taxes and an historic national drinking problem).

Tonight we're headed to an Aussie Rules Football game (aka "footie") and tomorrow morning it's off to Tasmania for some camping and hiking. In the meantime, we're enjoying Melbourne's laid-back vibe.