To see why the Dragon's Blood fell over, you can click on the sign.
Beautiful contours.
The trees in the Palm Grove are full of upside down Flying-fox bats.
We passed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Opera House is especially beautiful seen from the water.
The boat made a short stop at the Luna Park.
Dean and I disembarked at Darling Harbour and had a wander and a picnic. 
On the return journey Dean chose to sit inside the cabin, out of reach of the hot sun. 
Several blocks of streets were blocked to traffic and were lined with vintage cars on display.
Many people carried little flags and some even WORE the flag as a cape. Even in the Cathedral, no less. St. Mary's offered a free organ concert, a special Mass, and tours of the crypt, the church, and the bell tower. 
The picture is from yesterday, when ABC was setting up their exhibition trailer. 
Also in Hyde Park, "Sydney's biggest back yard," was a photographer who was shooting portraits with a pinhole camera. 
You can click on this photo to read about he connects his subjects with Hyde Park's disappearing huge old fig trees.
National Anthem
When no one is out in the yard to bother them, ibis, pigeons, and big black birds come and make themselves at home. The hungry ravens are very vocal at breakfast time. Sometimes myna birds, cockatoos, and rainbow lorikeets come by too.
Often we hear a kookaburra laughing up in the trees. 
I'm here in Australia visiting the family. In two weeks I will be heading back to Jerusalem winter.
I identify with this pioneer woman of Australia.
Complete with pigeons on her head.
Here she is on a cloudy day, with Archibald Fountain and Hyde Park in the foreground.
And here she is in the warm sun of last Sunday.
The many stained glass windows are glorious.
There is nothing quite like the atmosphere of a Gothic cathedral.
But this new addition has to be the most unusual altar I have ever seen.
You don't have to be Catholic to love organ music and Gregorian chant.
The Crimson Rosellas at the Jenolan Caves cafes and picnic areas have a lot of chutspah. Hoping to share your meal they will even sit on your finger if you let them. 
Many more bird and animal photos can be found this (and every) weekend over at Camera-Critters. 
Click to enlarge the photo and you'll see people way up there! 
The energetic runners are my grandson Dean and son-in-law, Guy.
The young kangaroo had milk from Mama.
What a cutie, the little joey!
A dozen fearless, friendly kangaroos were always hanging around the several cottages, hoping in vain for a hand-out. 
Greetings from Australia and best wishes to all for a good 2009.
Other skies await you at SkyWatch Friday. 
Yesterday my daughter took me and my two little grandsons by bus and train to Circular Quay. Thousands of tourists were down there but we found room on a beautiful ferry boat to Rose Bay and Watson's Bay. Sydney was in sunlight in the morning, but the sky over the city looked like this from the beach in Watson's Bay where we had a mid-afternoon fish and chips picnic. Very dramatic rain clouds. 
Happy Sky Watch Friday to all.
Happy Chanuka from my computer to yours!
The photos are from 2006, the sixth night of Chanuka, so you see six big flames and one for the shamash, the servant "candle." 
Here is the big Chanuka menorah in context. Please click on the picture to see it better. 
The chanukiya (menorah) is traditionally placed in a window or near the door or is lit outside in order to "publicize the miracle" to everyone.
Here is a photo from last year. This is how the chanukiya will look on the 8th and final day of the Festival of Lights. 
