Welcome to my home town, the beautiful World Heritage Listed, Greater Blue Mountains. Located about an hour and a half from Sydney, it is, in my opinion, Sydney's hidden gem.
My mountain journey began in 2011 when Ben took me to Echoes for my 31st birthday. I remember that bitter cold day, it was true to form Katoomba weather, misty, fresh and just bloody cold, but I was excited anyway because it was our first trip up here.
We pulled up to this gorgeous boutique hotel called Echoes. I fell in love straight away. The grounds we're beautiful and best of all, it seems to be quiet, exclusive and intimate. I like that. I don't do well in crowds.
We headed up stairs straight away. After an hour drive I had a mighty thirst for wine and made a bee line to the bar... Ok I didn't Ben got my drink for me.. That's me sitting down, on my phone, while staff sorts out the massive glass fireplace.
The suite was warm and cosy with killer views....
..... and a small outdoor area so we can walk out to the garden and take better photos of the killer view.
That is not fog. That, my people, are clouds.
The buffet breakfast sealed the deal for me.
The seed was planted after that trip.
As years went and I quit my job and focused on working with energy, the need to leave the Sydney basin increased until we began looking for land, coming to the conclusion perhaps we should try before we buy..
Fast foward to 2015. Time to try before we buy.
This is a photo taken from the sunroom in our house the morning after we moved. Amazing right? I loved that house.
I instantly felt at home and for the first time in a very long time I started drawing and painting again.
Sometimes (most of the time) I'll have a visitor. This little guy is Patch, on account of the dirt patch on his chest, except he's really not little. Cockatoos are BIG birds! He became my friend and bird protector, coming back again and again after all the others have gone.
He eventually got really friendly and started knocking on my bedroom window.
Then he brought a friend..
The whole family..
Distant cousins.. All hand fed by me :)
I've lived at a lot of different places and nothing beats the Blue Mountains on freshness, community, friendly fauna and views.
Moving up here changed my life. If you can make it up here I suggest you do and you'll see what I mean. Can you tell I love where I live? :D
Hero Standard by: <3 Private Arlybear