Last evening, my wife and I returned home weary but happy from our trip to Australia. By and large, it was a trip free of worry and mishap. The worst thing that happened was arriving at John Glenn International Airport without our luggage arriving with us, but it was delivered to our home early this morning, so no harm was done.

The best way to describe this trip of a lifetime is to break it into three sections: The flights, family time in Perth, together time in Sydney.

The Flights: In planning for this trip, I worried that the brief one-hour layover in Dallas would not give my wife and me enough time to be ready to board the Qantas flight to Sydney.  That worry proved unfounded. The American Airlines flight from Columbus left on schedule, and with help from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport’s connecting rail system, we had no problem getting to the gate for the Sydney flight. Once in Sydney, we had a few anxious moments when we were mistakenly sent to the international terminal for the flight to Perth. Fortunately, we had enough leeway with time that we still made the Perth flight with minutes to spare.  On the return trip, we had to hustle to make the Dallas-Columbus flight due to time spent going through customs. We moved faster than our suitcases, which as noted, came to us after we were home. The flights themselves were tough, if only because of the many hours (almost a full day) spent in the sky. The airbus that took us to Sydney was huge, carrying up to 500 passengers. But in the economy section, we still had to deal with relatively narrow seats. The flight attendants did all they could to make us comfortable, providing food and beverages at regular intervals, as well as a convenience kit with toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, and sleep mask. Even so, sleeping proved a challenge. I snoozed no more than two hours on the Sydney-bound flight and less than a half hour homeward bound. We had better luck sleeping on the first flight since we were seated behind a bulkhead rather than a row of seats and had more leg room. If I fly across the Pacific again, I may consider higher-quality seating, since economy seats are not too kind to my aging body.

Family Time in Perth: This lovely city on Australia’s southwest coast proved to be the best location for spending time with our children and grandchildren. Besides being close to numerous playgrounds, our rented home put us within walking distance of the city’s zoo, where we spent a whole day. A children’s science museum was another attraction we visited. It was quite crowded on the day we went, but our grandchildren still had the chance to try many of the museum’s interactive exhibits and attend a puppet show on plant and animal nutrition. More animal adventures waited for us at Caversham Wildlife Park, several miles outside the city. Besides feeding kangaroos and wallabies, the grandchildren got to pet a koala and have their picture taken with a wombat. For my part, I learned a lot from a farm-animal demonstration that showed how cows are milked and sheep are sheared. The last significant Perth attraction was Kings Botanic Garden. The grandchildren enjoyed this place so much, we came there twice. A little creek with a waterfall was a big draw for the kids, since they were allowed to wade in it. There were also lovely plants and a majestic fountain that shot water upwards of 40 feet. A well-marked path allowed people to walk through and around trees. I did make one mistake at the garden; I tried climbing through one of the steep covered stairways that are there for people younger than I. No serious disaster befell me, but my back paid a price. One final thing to mention is the large number of memorials in the park to servicemen who fought and died in both World Wars.

Together Time in Sydney: Becky and I made the most of our few days in Sydney. The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the dinner we had at the Sydney Opera House’s Bennelong Restaurant. We were fortunate enough to be seated at a window that gave us a full view of the harbor and all the activities going on there. My exquisite dinner included a crab-based salad, a main dish of wagyu beef and buckwheat pudding, and a crème caramel dessert. Becky’s dinner was equally impressive, but included eggplant and root vegetables, which I typically avoid. Before the Opera House dinner, we entered The Rocks Discovery Museum and learned about the first European explorers who came to Australia and also about the “Eora,” the aboriginal people already inhabiting the land. Many of the settlers who followed the explorers were convicts, although their crimes might have been as petty as forging a bank note. A wide range of artifacts along with some videos offered insights into how people lived in this area over the years. The video I found most interesting described the hardwood planks that were used to pave Sydney’s streets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On our second full day in the city, we took a harbor cruise, which gave us a clearer idea of how vast the waters around Sydney are. Our ship took us past lighthouses, beaches, bridges, waterfront houses, and Australian navy ships. Our guide told us that the waters around us were shark infested, causing me to question the wisdom of several kayakers who paddled nearby from time to time. The other big outing on our second day was a walk through the Royal Botanic Garden. Becky and I probably walked at least two miles around this picturesque haven of floral beauty. Becky especially enjoyed the succulent garden with its variety of cacti. I enjoyed it too, but I probably learned the most from a special pollination display, which underscored the important role bees and other pollinators play in maintaining plant life.

It’s hard to believe I’ll ever go to Australia again, given my age and its vast distance from my home. On the other hand, I didn’t think I would go even once, so never say never. In any case, I’ll always remember my visit to Australia as the trip of a lifetime.