Where is everybody from?

[David In Indy]

I just voted - never would have guessed that the Midwest US would have the highest percentage.

I live in the Midwest Marge, and I was very surprised too. 

[Kerry]

I was born and raised on the shores of Narrabeen Lake, which is a picturesque seaside suburb of Sydney, in Australia. That's the Pacific Ocean you can see to the right (scroll over), in this picture:

Narrabeen is an approximately 40 minute drive along the coast, north of Sydney, Australia's biggest city.

I now live closer to the city centre, within the gay ghetto with all its cafes, clubs and shopping, and close to Little Italy. Sydney Harbour is only a short walk away, at the end of my street.

[mvansand76]

I was born and raised on the shores of Narrabeen Lake, which is a picturesque seaside suburb of Sydney, in Australia. That's the Pacific Ocean you can see to the right (scroll over), in this picture:

Narrabeen is an approximately 40 minute drive along the coast, north of Sydney, Australia's biggest city.

I now live closer to the city centre, within the gay ghetto with all its cafes, clubs and shopping, and close to Little Italy. Sydney Harbour is only a short walk away, at the end of my street.

Oh My God Kerry, what a beautiful place to grow up, you're so lucky....

I had to do with the not so terribly exciting cheese town Alkmaar in North-Holland...

[Kerry]

Oh My God Kerry, what a beautiful place to grow up, you're so lucky....

I had to do with the not so terribly exciting cheese town Alkmaar in North-Holland...

Narrabeen is a very pretty place, Melissa, and Sydney is a beautiful city. But so too is Alkmaar, from what I can see of the pics your posted. It looks absolutely gorgeous. Like something out of a fairy tale! And Alkmaar has something very precious that Sydney is sadly lacking - a long history.  Sydney's only been in existence for just over 200 years. Bet Alkmaar's been there for longer than that! 

You might be interested to know, Melissa, that a lot of Dutch people live in and around the Narrabeen area. I went to school with some Dutch boys who lived near me by name of Van Laar, Van Royen, Tryness and Vermin. Their families had lived in the Dutch East Indies and came to live in Australia, when that country gained its independence.

[Toycoon]

I'm in Sunny Southern California, folks.
I'm the only Brokie I know out here. Everyone else is in the closet!

[mvansand76]

Narrabeen is a very pretty place, Melissa, and Sydney is a beautiful city. But so too is Alkmaar, from what I can see of the pics your posted. It looks absolutely gorgeous. Like something out of a fairy tale! And Alkmaar has something very precious that Sydney is sadly lacking - a long history.  Sydney's only been in existence for just over 200 years. Bet Alkmaar's been there for longer than that! 

You might be interested to know, Melissa, that a lot of Dutch people live in and around the Narrabeen area. I went to school with some Dutch boys who lived near me by name of Van Laar, Van Royen, Tryness and Vermin. Their families had lived in the Dutch East Indies and came to live in Australia, when that country gained its independence.

Yeah, there is a long history between Holland and Australia!

I read this on Wikipedia:

The first undisputed recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland was made by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, who sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in 1606. During the 17th century, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines of what they called New Holland, but made no attempt at settlement. In 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Britain. The expedition's discoveries provided impetus for the establishment of a penal colony there.

and:

The Dutch adjectival form Australische was used by Dutch officials in Batavia to refer to the newly discovered land to the south in 1638.

Yes, Alkmaar has been around longer, Alkmaar is 755 years old.... But although we have the sea and the beautiful dune landscape nearby we have nothing near the natural beauty that Australia has! 

[moremojo]

I'm in Sunny Southern California, folks.
I'm the only Brokie I know out here. Everyone else is in the closet!

Mark ('jpwagoneer1964') calls San Diego home.

[Kerry]

The first undisputed recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland was made by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, who sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in 1606. During the 17th century, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines of what they called New Holland, but made no attempt at settlement. In 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Britain. The expedition's discoveries provided impetus for the establishment of a penal colony there.

Yep, that's very true, Melissa. On some old maps the name for Australia is recorded as "New Holland"! 

[David In Indy]

Australia and Holland are both very beautiful countries. I have never been to Australia, but I have been to the Netherlands and I can personally vouch for all the tremendous beauty in that country.

But I have seen enough pictures to also know Australia is ALSO a very beautiful country.

Kerry and Melissa, both of you are so lucky! 

This is what I get to look at once I leave Indianapolis....













    




Ya'll are lucky!!!! 

[Kerry]

This is what I get to look at once I leave Indianapolis....

David, your photos of Indiana remind me of a song we were taught at school:

"Oh, give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer
And the antelop play.
Where never is heard
A disparaging word
And the sky is all cloudless
All day.
Home, home on the range, etc."

   Am I close? It's been a long time since I sang it!   

Your photos remind me of the scenery that I've seen in so many Western movies, such as "Dances with Wolves"   (not the pic of the highway though!) 

I think you live in a very beautiful part of America, David.