Our arrival in Sydney gave us a fantastic day to enjoy the first of what would become daily forays on the rail lines of Sydney's metropolitan area. After purchasing a weekly ticket we found our way to Central Station (which would soon become the hub of hubs for us) and then took the train all the way northwest of the city to Epping, a small suburb with two main streets straddling the railroad tracks. It was quaint and quiet with a few locally owned and operated shops of varying sorts (our favorites were the Armenian couples' deli and the Cafe Topiary with its divine chail latte). A kilometer or so beyond the downtown area, down the road and off to the right at the fork, the quiet neighborhood oozed with green everywhere. We found our way to the apartment building and let ourselves in (Chechi and Brian, our hosts, had left the keys for us).
The day was slow and relaxing, giving us time to catch up on our sleep deprivation (Irini walked up and down the isle for hours as the night had moved into the morning. Chechi arrived with her normal amounts of energy... how wonderful it was to see her again after all these years. Irini was immediately smitten.
The next few days allowed us time to get to the know the neighborhood and, more importantly, gave us a chance to do the things that friendships are good for... the things that individually might not make a major impact in one's life but which, over the course of our visit, meant so much to all of us, leaving us with memories that we can't help but look back on and smile. Brian and Chechi were the ultimate hosts, allowing us ample freedome to rummage the house and Irini to disembowel every pantry door she was able to get her hands on. More than anything, though, their mere presence made us feel so at home and the love they showed Irini was touching. Irini would happily move from Chechi's lap to Brians and change around. She would look into Chechi's eyes and instantly smile. It was one of those vacations where lives are touched.
Epping was also home to a host of absolutely wonderful bird life. The parakeets and cockatoos stole the show. The birds were colorful, large and, for the most part, very happy. Irini was enamored. The adults followed suit as well as our heads twisted this way and that to see the bird life flying in and out of the trees outside the back balcony.
We went to the Blue Mountains as well, and did a fair share of shopping and walking. Life was simple, times were good and love abounded.
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