It took a total of six flights to make it to my stunning destination of San Sebastian in Spain. 

My trip started in true north west fashion with an eight hour delay at the Cloncurry airport. 

I spent my time away with a group of friends from around the globe – hailing from major international cities like Stockholm, New York City and Toronto. 

I proved to be quite popular among the group with tales of rouge kangaroos and wild bush rodeos. 

They were particularly interested in how I manage to keep myself entertained in an isolated outback town. 

The councils of the north west will be pleased to know that I am now one of the region’s best ambassadors. 

I boasted our campdrafts, agriculture shows and folk music scene.  

I even gave Barry Byrne’s iconic Queen’s Birthday morning tea a good plug. 

The ‘Big Apple’ city slickers were gobsmacked and enthralled to learn just how much is on offer out here. 

Instead of Broadway we have the Mount Isa Theatrical Society. 

The candy stripped stack is our own Statue of Liberty and who needs Central Park when we have Lake Moondarra. 

They were of course shocked to learn it was about the same price to fly from New York to Brisbane as the two hour connecting flight to Mount Isa.

We would have much more luck luring the tourist dollar out west if it didn’t cost an arm and a leg to get here. 

A special thanks has to go to my colleagues at the paper for covering my rounds while I enjoyed a few too many glasses of sangria on the beach. 

While I am missing the shopping and warm Spanish weather, I am keen to get back to telling the stories that matter most to our community.

As Mayor Joyce McCulloch pointed out during Wednesday’s council meeting, we are coming into an incredibly busy time of the year. I look forward to catching up with readers at all of the iconic events on our calendar in the coming weeks. 

 – Lydia Lynch.