Terra Australis
Already there is a change of people on board. Familiar faces have left and new ones have found their way on board.
The same day, in the evening the Galileo moved on again. For us it would be a few days more until disembarkation in Sydney to which we were very much looking forward to.
The young Austrian family went also to Sydney and then further on to Brisbane where in a place called Wacol they could stay until they found jobs and accommodation.
We were on our own and had to look after ourselves. The Australian Government did not pay for our voyage nor for accommodation. They said the Swiss are well off and don't need help. Which was fair enough, we didn't expect it.
The family from New Zealand travelled on to Auckland. They spend a Year in Norway and were now returning home. The family from Cordoba was going to settle in Melbourne. Where they hoped to find jobs.
The few days remaining on the Galileo, was a little bit like being in limbo. I was not hungry and I didn't sleep all that well. Butterflies in my stomach, and I thought I was so strong to master anything. Now we were so near our destination it was nearly like utopia. The little cabin had become like a cocoon, safe and familiar. At least we did not have to worry about Peter or I finding a job. We knew were we wanted to settle, and we knew we wanted to buy land. One Italian lady made always a very unhappy impression. I saw her often because her boy was about the same age as Lilli and they played and roamed the Galileo together. She didn't like at all to return to Melbourne. She wanted to stay in Italy. Her husband was happy to return to his chosen new homeland. Many new Australians returning from their holidays in Europe were very exited and happy to be back home and send kisses into the soft, moist air when we had approached Terra Australis.
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In Melbourne we had some time to explore the city. We didn't fancy that and took the children to the zoo to have a look at Australian animals. It was quite cool and clouds were chasing each other trying to give us a glimpse of a blue Melbourne sky. The few splats of big raindrops soon turned into rain.
We returned once more, the last time to our momentary home. She, the Galileo was waiting for us. Proud, gleaming white and dependable. I was nearly a bit sad that this was our last journey. Yet the excitement to be so near to our final destination took over my emotions. On our suitcases it said in prominent letters Sydney, alluring, mysterious, proud. Soon these letters would turn into a city, into people, streets, parks and all the other beautiful and ugly sides of any city.
Everybody was on deck , what a show it was. Nowhere I felt the same excitement of the people, as when the Galileo approached Sydney harbour. It was like everything came to a happy end. The suitcases were hauled once more from the bowel of the ship and carried by the stewards to form neat rows to be picked up by the passengers. We said goodbye to a few acquaintances and in the excitement also shook hands with strangers.
My butterflies had settled, there was just a little flutter from time to time. Five persons, seven suitcases and numerous handbags, us, standing a bit forlorn on the quayside in between the hustle and bustle of strangers. What now?
There was not one single person in Sydney or for that in the whole of Australia, we could call and say, hey, we are here we have arrived!
Taxis arrived and departed. We better look for a hotel as we wanted to stay a few days in Sydney. We approached a Taxi and asked If he knew a nice family hotel. He took us and our luggage and delivered us to the Peoples Palace. The taxi cost us 7 Dollars.
We didn't know the Peoples Palace was managed by the Salvation Army. It was a tall, old building. Inside all was wood and we had 2 rooms on the third floor.
The first thing we did was looking for an escape route in case there was a fire. The rooms were fine. Everything very old fashioned. The beds were high, very comfortable with fresh, crisp white linen. The only thing I didn't feel comfortable about was the communal toilets and showers which one had to approach through a maze of dingy corridors. There were also a lot of odd people shuffling to and fro.
After settling in we left to have a look at our surroundings. We went to see the Opera House. We were thrilled to be standing on the broad steps, admiring this famous and formidable building. What a treat it must be to be able to be inside, all dressed up, and listen to a concert. We went for a long stroll in the Royal Botanical Garden. What a treat this Garden is. There were not many people. We looked at the trees which were all labelled with their name. It is a beautiful park.
The children took their shoes off and made very soon their first acquaintance with the very famous Bindi-eye. Ooh what is this, it stings, it hurts? A lady sitting not far from
us, explained that this was an Australian weed called Bindi-eye or the Australian way just Bindi. It grows in lawns in spring and summer, something to get used to!
In the evening Peter and the girls went out to have dinner. I had a terrible migraine, I felt so miserable and sick all I wanted to do was bury my head in my cushion.
The next morning I felt better again and we did a bit more sightseeing. Our heart was not really in this we wanted to be on our way to our final destination. So, we decided to call it a day and went to the railway station to book a train to Grafton.
Taxis arrived and departed. We better look for a hotel as we wanted to stay a few days in Sydney. We approached a Taxi and asked If he knew a nice family hotel. He took us and our luggage and delivered us to the Peoples Palace. The taxi cost us 7 Dollars.
We didn't know the Peoples Palace was managed by the Salvation Army. It was a tall, old building. Inside all was wood and we had 2 rooms on the third floor.
The first thing we did was looking for an escape route in case there was a fire. The rooms were fine. Everything very old fashioned. The beds were high, very comfortable with fresh, crisp white linen. The only thing I didn't feel comfortable about was the communal toilets and showers which one had to approach through a maze of dingy corridors. There were also a lot of odd people shuffling to and fro.
After settling in we left to have a look at our surroundings. We went to see the Opera House. We were thrilled to be standing on the broad steps, admiring this famous and formidable building. What a treat it must be to be able to be inside, all dressed up, and listen to a concert. We went for a long stroll in the Royal Botanical Garden. What a treat this Garden is. There were not many people. We looked at the trees which were all labelled with their name. It is a beautiful park.
The children took their shoes off and made very soon their first acquaintance with the very famous Bindi-eye. Ooh what is this, it stings, it hurts? A lady sitting not far from
us, explained that this was an Australian weed called Bindi-eye or the Australian way just Bindi. It grows in lawns in spring and summer, something to get used to!
In the evening Peter and the girls went out to have dinner. I had a terrible migraine, I felt so miserable and sick all I wanted to do was bury my head in my cushion.
The next morning I felt better again and we did a bit more sightseeing. Our heart was not really in this we wanted to be on our way to our final destination. So, we decided to call it a day and went to the railway station to book a train to Grafton.
Copyright 2008 T.S.
