A WALK THROUGH NOOROO GARDENS

 Good morning, dear friends.  Hope you are well.

It is winter here in OZ and we are freezing, not so much from the lower temperature but from the gusts of cold wind that brings you chills and there is nowhere you can hide from it.  Don't trust those Aussies who would tell you that there is no winter in Australia, they are in denial and can't be trusted.

Of course, it is not the winter we used to have back in Russia but we had a different approach to it, either.  For starters, we wore warm clothes, the dwellings had central heating and double glazed windows, etc.  Here, the temperature would not be higher then 12 degrees and you see people on the streets dressed in the same clothes they wore during the summer months, ie thongs, shorts and t-shirts.

I have been living here for over thirty years now and are as fascinated by this phenomenon as I was when I saw it for the first time.

The one thing I love about winter is watching how the trees and bushes have gradually changed their colours.  Some turned their leaves into a golden yellow, while others become coloured in deep reds and burgundy.  It is a perfect time to take a drive to the Blue Mountains, a rugged region West of Sydney known for its dramatic scenery, steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and villages dotted with guesthouses, galleries and gardens, and take a walk through the gardens that are hugely popular among the locals and tourists alike.  Just make sure that you are appropriately dressed as the weather there is far cooler than by the coast.

Last Sunday the air was cool but calm, the sun was nice and warm so we decided to take a trip to Nooroo Gardens, one of many parks spread along the mountains to see the change of seasons before the leaves fall off completely. 

I didn't hesitate to bundle up into my all time faithful puffy jacket, scarf, gloves etc.  It was a minimum of five degrees cooler and I felt it in my bones, no matter how fast we walked.  After a pit stop at the local cafe for a bowl of pumpkin soup and a toasty which was exactly what the doctor ordered, it helped to keep the cold away and we thoroughly enjoyed the grounds.

The air was so clean, crisp and fresh that our lungs went into overdrive from the abundance of oxygen.  The colours of the foliage were magnificent, we couldn't stop admiring this wonder of nature.  The only flowers that were still in bloom were Hydrangeas, some of their colours I never seen before.

It was a lovely invigorating day and we returned home recharged and refreshed.

Have a great week ahead

Until then,

Anna

xoxo