Postcards Home
Reports from Belo Interactive contributors at the Olympics in Sydney, AustraliaJohn Banks: Postcard from Sydney 09/13/2000 By John Banks / dallasnews.com SYDNEY, Australia – Rambling thoughts from a jet-lagged brain:
 Sydney is a 17-hour trip by air from Dallas – two hours and change to Los
Angeles and about 14 hours from LA to Sydney. A little perspective: That's
nearly three round-trip flights from Dallas to New York. Or maybe a wait in
line last month at Hurricane Harbor.
How Americanized is Sydney? We counted three McDonald's, a Burger King and
two pizza joints in the short trip from the airport to the Media Village. Of
course, we counted them from the left-hand lane. They drive
on the left-hand side of the road Down Under.
A name you can't miss in the Sydney newspapers: Ian Thorpe. The swimmer is
not only the biggest name in Australian sports, he also has world-class
feet: size 17. And you gotta love his nickname: Thorpedo.
Count on NBC to show you the spectacular Harbour Bridge in Sydney over and
over again. There once was a time that only bridge workers could make the climb
up the span for a spectacular view of Sydney. Now any adult with 70 bucks
can make the three-hour climb. Drinkers beware, however. Every prospective
climber must pass a breath test before getting the go-ahead for a climb.
How appropriate department: The Olympic Media Village formerly was a mental
hospital. Hmmm.... some would say it still is.
G'day,
- John Banks, dallasnews.com
|
•
Track star 
1996
swimming gold medalist Ryan Berube 
