Sydney

Sunday, Jan.9.
Instead of driving with the thousands of residents who are returning to Sydney from their Christmas holidays, we venture onto Route 69 which travels through the Wollemi and Yengo National Parks. Unexpectedly, as we pass Bulga we see miles of open-pit coal mining. There appears to be no “reclamation” of the land as you see east of Princeton. Now we know they probably do take coals to Newcastle as that would be the closest port.
Peter drives as we wind around the mountains, only this time they are well-treed. There is, as we hoped, little traffic. This changes once we get to Wilson and stop for a picnic lunch by the river and for information from the I-site. I take over the driving so Peter can navigate us to the hotel in downtown Sydney.
All goes well until we are not on the map and begin to wing-it. I take a left instead of going straight just as we get downtown, but I do avoid the lane that would take us over the Harbour Bridge. That would be bad! As it turns out, we are on a good street that takes us within a block of the hotel. A quick whip around the block and we are safe and sound.
I really don’t mind being on the left side of the road if only I could stop hitting the windshield-wipers instead of the turn signal! This only occurs when I have to do it quickly. If I know a turn is coming up or if I am passing, I think about it and get it right. Also, in this car I need to roll-up the beach towel Lesley so nicely gave us to sit on to see over the steering wheel.
The Travelodge is great and, although we don’t have a toaster (which might set-off the smoke alarm which would cost us $400 for bringing the fire brigade), we do have a microwave and small fridge, so we can be quite self-sufficient.
Once settled, we head downtown to get our bearings. It is wonderful the way old facades remain and new high-rises tower up from behind. Our first impression is that Sydney is neither dirty nor clean - it’s just a big city. We are close to Hyde Park and the immense Anzac Memorial. The Australian are as passionate about their patriotism as we found the New Zealanders.
We find a Woolworth’s which is a grocery store in Australia. We take a chance and choose a couple of TV dinners. I think McCain’s are better at the business than Weight Watchers! Peter’s dinner looks much more appetizing than mine. The wine helps my tasteless beef go down. We watch a program about the Snowball Earth of 45 million years ago. Our usual exciting night!

What I think about when I think of Sydney:

Sailboats in the harbour;
The Harbour Bridge;
The wonderful buildings; my neck is sore from looking up.

The Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park.

The Harbour Bridge with and without people!

Monday, Jan. 10.
What to do first is always a conundrum. We decide we will walk - see the Opera House, the pier, walk the Harbour Bridge (not over the “top“ but just on the sidewalk with the other less extravagant people), and find out about the ferries. We plan to spend Wednesday ferry-hopping. It is $20 each for a
day-pass, so we will see some surrounding areas. The weather does not draw one, even me, to the beach. It is warm, so the showers don’t stop us.
We head to China Town for some won ton soup, but can’t find a place with a big bowl. Just a couple as an appetizer (entree here). We end up at a pub which is often our choice.

Tuesday, Jan. 11.
The weigh-in at Mayer’s is a special one-on-one counselling format, so I will get my once-a-month weigh-in in Canberra. Through my reading, I discover that the library has free WiFi, so we head there and I manage to contact Douglas. I will not be able to post a blog until we move on.
I take in the Annie Leibovitz photography exhibit at the Art Gallery. I don’t get time to see the rest of the gallery, but am glad I saw the photos. She is so much of our generation. I am taken aback when I see her photo of Queen Elizabeth 11 - she looks so much like I remember my mother!
Peter goes on the heritage building walk. We walk some of it together in the afternoon. I enjoy the observatory. Peter explains that the ball on the roof drops at 1 p.m. each day as it did when first installed to allow sailors and citizens to keep time as most did not have watches. Also, some of the houses in this area remind me of Point St. Charles of years ago. Probably the same time and kind of immigrants built similar buildings on opposite sides of the world. Wasn’t the British Empire something!
Another microwave dinner, and I’m switching to McCain’s next time as I have another spicy, but yucky-chicken W.W. meal. I’m off wine until my clothes get looser, so a few nice cups of tea complete the exciting evening.

NOTE: We are not in the horrific flooded areas of Australia. Today, they did close one of the roads we traveled last week and it seems the Breakfast Creek hotel I posted in early Jan. will be flooded later this week, but we are far enough south that there is no flooding. But what a horrendous time they are having. Yet, besides the tears of grief that interviewees cannot contain, there is a buck-up and get-to-work attitude from the Auzzies. Strong stock!

The Observatory & time-ball (yellow).

Buildings like in old Montreal & Quebes City.

** What is this? Answer at end of blog.

Wednesday, Jan. 12
Ferry Day. What fun! We hop the up-river run to Rydalmere first as the low tide will not all permit it all the way in the afternoon. There are eleven stops on the run; a real commuter‘s run. We see the downtown skyscrapers from many angles as we dip and dive through the various bays. There are a number of houses I could imagine owning! Across from Kissing Point there is a group of buildings like Macdonald college which turn out to be a convalescent hospital - or was when it was built. Many people get off at the Olympic Park stop, but it means a bus ride and we decide to skip it. The end of the run is a refinery area, which is probably the reason for its existence. I speak with a British lady who gets a concession rate - I guess because she has an accent! She was to go to Brisbane but has changed to Perth as Brisbane is expected to be under water for a week, and then the clean-up.
We take three more quick ferries before deciding to take the bus to Bondi Beach. Peter is not too thrilled, but I can’t come this far and not see it.
It is huge! There are a number of people on the beach and in the water. Lots of surfing students. This is the place to learn. One young girl throws her hands up in victory when she gets a five second ride on her board. It sure looks like fun.
It is illegal to smoke on the beach and carries a $200 fine. (you have to go to the boardwalk where ashtrays are provided.) But, obviously, it is not illegal to be topless. We see one youngish teenager and one oldish, well-bronzed lady enjoying the sun - what there was of it through the high clouds.
We make a quick stop at the hotel to drop off excessive baggage, a Peter to wet his whistle, and we are off to the Manly Ferry. This trip takes us to the edge of the sea, so as we reach the Sydney Heads the ferry swings and sways for a few minutes. The walk to the sea is down a shopper’s promenade. The wind begins to blow a gale as we approach the beach. There are few people on the sand, but three kite-boarders in the bay. They are really whipping along. One guy goes up in the air over the waves. I wonder how they get the kites to lose air so they can stop.
Hunger drives us to a busy pub where Peter has the best pizza on our trip and I have a tasty creamy chicken and corn soup. It is so nice to have good, friendly service and not be expected to tip!
We catch the 8:45 ferry back so we can see the city lit-up. It is a lovely way to finish our visit to Sydney.


Bondi Beach - Bathing beauty

by the railing.
Kite-boarder, Manly Beach

Bondi Beach.

Sydney by night.

The Opera House by night and day.

** A public urinal, still in use.