Domestic Air Travel

On our way to Tasmania for a few blissfully work-free, kid-free days while Gran and Pop generously stay with Hannah and Abbey in Sydney. Having suffered the torture of domestic US airlines extensively, I am extremely impressed with our travel experience so far here in Australia.

I did not show a single piece of identification at any time in order to
get on the plane. For all they know I could have found my boarding pass in the bathroom. That doesn't say a lot for security, but it certainly makes things more convenient. I brazenly breezed through security with nail polish, sunscreen and a full bottle of water in my carry-on. I even went so far as to leave my shoes on as I went through the metal detector. The entire check-in, baggage check, security, travel to gate process took about 15 mins. To top it off our plane actually left the terminal exactly on time, spent about 5 mins max on the runway, and then took off. All of this at one of the busiest airports in the world!

Alas, the fun had to end sometime. I am now sitting on the plane only to discover that a Diet Coke on-board costs $3.50. Will the lunacy of Diet Coke pricing in this country ever end?! My dreams of endless free DC all the way to Tassie have been dashed.

Sweet pool find!

How is it that this place is not completely overrun with people?? Olympic size lap pool and beautiful separate pool for lounging, deep enough to swim but kids can just touch too so safe. Yes, that is the ocean right next to the pool. Best bargain I've found in sydney so far too, $6 admission. To top the day off, Hannah told me she didn't recognize me in a lounge chair next to the pool because i "looked too good and skinny to be a mommy" This day just keeps getting better :)

More Grocery Ridiculousness

I know I never stop complaining about how expensive things are here and I should remember that as I write this I am sitting in bed listening to the waves crash outside my patio doors that overlook the beach less than 100 meters from the spot I am sitting in and just be thankful I am here no matter how much things cost.  But seriously!!??  Take a minute and see if you can do the math on the picture below.

Yes, that is $18 (Australian dollars that is, so add an extra 5% on top of that to convert to USD) for 30 cans of Coke.  And here is the kicker, that is marked down almost by half from a regular price (which I have paid more times than I care to remember) of $29.99.  The picture shows Coke here but importantly, this applies to Diet Coke as well which has almost been my undoing so far in Sydney.  My 3-DC/day habit has been seriously curtailed.

But, not to worry, if I have to turn to less expensive, more fattening beverage options, I'll be saved by...

Note, that product is actually called "Fat Magnet"!!  What could be better than that?  It's almost worth spending 30 bucks on a case of Diet Coke just so I can say "well at least I was able to avoid taking Fat Magnet".

But wait!  There's a Red Hot Sale at the liquor store, surely there will be some bargains to be found there to offset the grocery bill.

Does anyone remember Beer Beer (the Canadians among you will).  Its basically generic, no name beer which is more or less what is advertised here for the low low price of $60 for 2 cases, marked down from $84.  Yes, $84 for 2 cases of beer.  Of course, for the fancy pants among you, bring your check book if you come to Australia looking for a name brand like Corona.  Those will set you back $45, on sale.

And finally, Maybelline mascara for $16.  Not Chanel, not even Mac or Clinique.  Maybelline!!  As in $3.99 at CVS,  Somebody shoot me.

Next time I see a half-pint of raspberries on sale for $12, I'll be sure to post a photo of that too.