Sydney, revised edition

Mon, 22 May 2000 16:14:00 +0000

Sydney is the host of the Olympic Games this September. That's Syd-er-nee, as IOC boss Juan Samaranch announced a few years ago.
Yes, a few people still need updating on what lies Down Under. As a pre-Olympics gesture of goodwill, here are a few answers to the
FAQs about that big blob at the bottom of the globe.

Is Australia a safe place to visit?

We don't carry guns. Some of us carry knives, but we only use them on rival gang members. We wear seat belts and don't smoke in
public buildings, public transport or in most restaurants. We drive at 60 kilometers per hour and, yes, we are metric. We have clean
water, antibacterial sprays and little strips of paper across our toilet lids. The last time we lost an American, we eventually found him
in the desert and put him on TV. We floss.

Is Sydney cold in early spring?

Cold? Sydney doesn't get cold. We don't believe in it. Maybe there are a few days in August when we might wear a jumper, or pullover,
over our shorts and T-shirts, but that's about it.

Salon.com > Deirdre Macken

Sydney, revised edition