Return from “Down Under”
It is good to be stateside once again! Do not misunderstand: I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and the Holy Spirit lifted my heart toward the Eternal. However, two weeks away from my wife and son created in me a grave desire to be at home. So, I am pleased to write from the living room of my humble abode.
In the days since my return, many people have inquired about my recent pilgrimage. Some want to know about the scenery and sightseeing opportunities in Australia, some want to know about the World Youth Day events, some want to know about the youth who accompanied me on the pilgrimage. "How was it?," everybody asks. My replies have seemed inadequate; I cannot seem to find words to properly express the immensity and intensity of a pilgrimage to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008. Alas, I will try to articulate two weeks worth of experiences and points of personal revelation into this post and ones to follow in the next days.
Indeed, there were many fascinating things to see in the Land Down Under. From the day of my arrival, I was surrounded by the historical and cultural sites to be expected of such a global metropolis. Such sites included the Sydney Harbour Bridge (I climbed it!) and skyline; the world renown Sydney Opera House; Hyde Park (whose namesake was built in London centuries earlier) and the statue of Queen Victoria; Parliament House and the former residence of the royal governor; Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay Wharf; Sydney's two oldest pubs (questions of which was older caused the need to visit both); and St. Mary's Cathedral, which is Australia's oldest Catholic Church and worthy of a separate post.
Encounters with Australian wildlife were quite common, too. Visits to two wildlife observatories yielded opportunities to view the world's most venomous snake, tiny penguins, seemingly infinite varieties of birds and butterfly species, wallabies, wombats (the best of all Aussie animals!), a Tasmanian devil, the world's largest cockroach, boxing kangaroos, and koala bears. In addition to species found on land and air, I experienced a wide variety of aquatic life found in the south Pacific. Most fascinating and beautiful in the Sydney Aquarium was the representation of the Great Barrier Reef, which gave a brief glimpse into that underwater paradise.
In the final days of the pilgrimage, I was blessed with opportunities to experience the Blue Mountains and Australian beach scenery. The first wonderfully clear day provided breathtaking views of the sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls, canyons stretching for miles covered in a light blue haze (created by oil from the eucalyptus tree), and fascinating rock formations. On the following day, I witnessed a radiant sunrise on the Pacific horizon; framed by a tall cliff on one side and white foam created by waves crashing into the rocks near shore on the other side. Finally, my body and mind were treated to a slow boat cruise around Pittwater Bay (north of Sydney), during which time I caught a glimpse of how long and far one could travel without interruption if such was his/her desire.
Aside from culture and wildlife, I also learned that Aussie food is delicious! Actually, it is quite similar to our own culinary achievements with a few noticeable variations. The best single food product that I tasted while in Sydney was, believe it or not, kangaroo. It tastes like perfectly prepared beef tenderloin, and it is much better than emu (which tastes distinctly like liver). Another delectable dish is fish and chips, an Aussie staple. I was informed that, on most occasions, the fish of fish and chips is shark. The chips of fish and chips are merely french fries, nothing fancy. Pork sausages are grilled along with onions and served on slices of white bread. Although I was not able to sample, I heard on good authority that crocodile is fabulous as well. Wheetbix is an amazing cereal (comparable to mini-wheats in the U.S., but MUCH MORE DELICIOUS). Meat pies are filling! Tomato sauce (actually ketchup with less sugar and salt) takes the place of ketchup. TimTams (similar to Twix bars in the U.S.) are one of the best desserts in all the world! All experiences were not positive, however. I have realized that canned tuna is hardly palatable to me; and that any variety of baked beans other than barbecued leave a bad taste in my mouth. Alas, I received one tidbit of personal revelation through all of these culinary ventures: God has never let me go hungry! Regardless of what food is in front of me, I am thankful that I have food in front of me.
Click here to see some of the images from the pilgrimage.
Of all the conclusions to be made from such encounters, one was paramount above the others. I was reminded that God's majesty is infinite; and it can be found all over this huge planet, in places that are both obvious and unexpected. The musings above are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are so many other experiences about which to write. In fact, whole posts could be written on many of the ideas above. Those posts will come in due time.
Until then, please join me in my prayers of thanksgiving for the universal Church, Pope Benedict XVI, the youth of our planet, Australia and all its culture, safe travels, and the opportunity to be at home once again with my family.
God bless!