Gerald's World or Tales of the Black Unicorn

**  The Intense Pleasure of Unique Tasting Moments: This phrase is taken directly from the box of the Nespresso machine I see in the department store in Melbourne as I am inquiring about a set of wireless Apple EarPods.   This phrase brings me joy but doesn't make me want to drink coffee or have a Nespresso machine.  I think the phrase is a grammatical error confined to the box I am looking at, but it seems to be the tagline for Nespresso because it is on every box and model of machine.  Can this be?  Melbourne CBD from The Cullen It's been interesting trying to put my thoughts together and write about my time in Melbourne. So much happened during this leg of the Walkabout. I had the opportunity to reconnect with friends, to connect and make a new friend, and to really feel relaxed for the first time during this trip. On my last visit to Melbourne five years ago, the only people I knew were the  team at 100 Story Building, the...

I decide to travel from Sydney to Melbourne by train instead of plane so I can see more of the country. I didn't want to go the overnight route, so instead I decided to spend a night or two in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, then head onward to Melbourne. The four hour train down to Canberra is uneventful. I sit next to a nice, somewhat gruff older gentleman. We don’t exchange names but I learn a lot about him even though I don't ask. He lives in Brisbane, he’s was in the Navy, he’s a retired air traffic controller, and he loves antique cars having traveled to a few car shows in the US. I have not given one iota of personal information about myself nor has he asked, only that I am traveling through Australia after time in New Zealand. He tells me about the kangaroo he hit one day that ruined the grill and radiator of his car.  “Kangaroos are all hips and bottom,” he said. “They run murder on cars if you hit one.”  “Really”, I say back as I have no real ...

Sydney CBD Sydney Opera House - Saw Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular here in 2012! This isn't my first time in Australia. I paid my first visit to the island continent in 2012. Then, it was my first time away from the office after two years of working at 826 National with no vacations. I decided to go as far away as I could, far out of my comfort zone with no cell reception. I spent a week in Sydney and a few days in Melbourne, all over the Christmas holidays (American winter/Australian summer). It was a wonderful trip. Sightseeing, meeting new people, visiting 826-inspired organizations, going on a few dates with the men from Down Under. Actually, I have never heard anyone from Australia call it ‘Down Under.’ I think it annoys them, along with Fosters being considered their national beer. I came back to Australia because I appreciated how genuine and rough around the edges the people are. They are bawdy and loud, hilarious with a devil may care attitude I find refres...

I met this word and this concept on my first day in Auckland: T urangawaewae - having a place to stand for. For Maori this is a crucial concept that speaks of one's place within the world. The looming SkyTower which turned 20 while I was here On my first full day in Auckland, I walked the streets of the CBD (Central Business District to you uninitiated travelers) in an attempt to get lost. I wasn't succeeding, the city is laid out really well with a huge Skytower spire looming over all (insert Eye of Sauron reference here). Unfortunately it is attached to a really pretentious hotel called Mordor, I mean SkyCity, but I was told I should go anyway for the view.Didn't do it , maybe next trip.  Usually when I travel to an international city, I try to get lost so I can find my way around and explore the nooks and crannies you don't see on a tour. Some would say this is crazy and potentially dangerous if you wind up in a part of town that may be "sketchy...