Barefoot in Sydney

We're in Sydney and it is beautiful. Like, seriously, such a cool city.

I've never walked as much in my life as I have the last two days getting around this city though. For reasons too complicated to try to explain in this space, we ended up at a hostel called Tokyo Village that is like 8 miles from anything. So we walk alot.

Yesterday we decided to go check out a few Sunday markets and then catch a ferry over to the nearby Manly Beach. It was the perfect day for it as the weather here right now kind of feels like Labor Day weekend in the states. It's not fall yet, but it's too cool and dry to just be summer. The beach was great and after hanging around in the town for awhile after lounging on the beach, we caught the ferry back to the city.

At some point over the course of the day yesterday, Everett started to morph into the ultimate tourist. I don't know exactly what happened. We left the hostel with him wearing a normal t-shirt and shorts and shoes and me carrying his wallet and book in my bag. Then, at the first market we went to he bought a bathing suit that looks like every other bathing suit in Australia. Then, when we arrived at Manly, we stopped in a super market to get some drinks. Everett decided while we were there to purchase soap and a canvas bag. A bag that he loves more than anything now.

He moved his book, wallet and passport into the new bag with his soap. He changed out of his shorts, putting them in the bag. Then, while at the beach, he went up to the shops again, this time purchasing a bright red "Manly Beach Surf Patrol" shirt. He put his old shirt in his bag. And then he put his shoes in the bag.

So, for the rest of the night, all he wanted to talk about were two things 1) how awesome it was for a guy to carry a bag and how he wished it was acceptable in the US and 2) how he wanted to see how long he could go barefoot.

We went to a nice beachside bar before dinner, a nice Indian restaurant for dinner and another bar back in Sydney once we returned. Everett never put his shoes on. Or took his bathing suit off. At one point, as the evening wore down, he went up to a guy who was walking barefoot down the street and just stood next to him, noting that they were both barefoot. The guy told Everett he'd been barefoot for 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure I've never seen Everett be that impressed with someone.

We're off to the beach again today. And, in fact, Everett just walked into the internet cafe wearing his beach patrol shirt and bathing suit.

I'm just glad he has shoes on.