Random Thoughts/Observations

We will not bore you with facts about Newcastle that you can find in Wikipedia, but here's some semi-useless information to clog your brain:

1. Newcastle is the largest coal port in the world. Anywhere from 40 to 60 barges sit in the ocean waiting for entry into the harbor.

2. The band Silverchair originated in Newcastle.

3. Newcastle is widely regarded as a blue-collar town, but they are pumping a lot of $$$ into developments on the harbor and along the ocean.

4. Due to its proximity, Thai/Indian/any Asian food is delicious (Melody - Melissa promises we are going to start taking food pictures).

5. The Australian idea of Mexican food is Old El Paso products.

6. Subway is the most prominent American fast food joint - I blame you Jared Fogle.

7. At times we feel like we are in a bad 80's movie. Rat tails and mullets are in
style, everyone wears plastic sunglasses, brightly colored mismatched clothes and cutoff jorts.

8. Wine is cheap (5-10 bucks for a good bottle), beer is expensive ($40 a case)
and liquor is absurd (a fifth of Jim Beam is $50).

9. Most people don't actually buy liquor at the bar because "liquor drinks are
too strong". The alternative: pre-mixed cocktails in cans/bottles (Captain
Morgan's and coke, Jim Beam and Coke, Johnnie Walker and coke).

10. All bar/restaurants have slot machines and a booth for OTBgambling at the horse tracks. Apparently gambling is legal throughout all of Australia and apparently every bar is equipped with this.

11. Eggs at the supermarket aren't refrigerated. I kid you not. And they still
sell "Chicken Tonight".

12. The standard burger over here comes with canadian bacon, a fried egg,
pineapple and beet root (Dwight Schrutte would approve). An absurd combo, but
it's absolutely delicious.

13. El Camino's and various "car with a truck bed" knockoffs litter the streets.

14. Shirts are optional at least 2/3 of the time.

With all that being said, we absolutely love it here and we wouldn't change this experience for anything.