Sydney Opera House & Alps

As we approached Australia, the captain let us know that we had encountered strong head-winds on the way over and that Melbourne was covered in a morning fog. These two circumstances and the safety policies of Qantas Airlines required him to land in Sydney for re-fueling. Having a window seat on an exit row, I had a clear view of the Sydney Opera House and harbor as we were landing - an unexpected gift from God. The re-fueling stop added 1 1/2 hours to our flight, but the trip to Melbourne from Sydney also provided another spectacular view - the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps and the peaceful little villages and farms sprinkled throughout the Yarra Valley.