Sydney

The weather has been wonderful – hot and only a bit too humid on one day: all in fairly stark contrast to the saturation (if you’ll excuse the unfortunate choice of expression) coverage of the cyclone to the north. Pretty much where we’re heading but all seems well and here in Sydney it’s just perfect.

On our first evening we were walking from our hotel into the city – our hotel is in the old city, The Rocks, and couldn’t be in a better place – and we just happened to bump into our former next door neighbour’s Mum and Dad, John and Carol. We did know they were going to be in Sydney around the same time as us but the string of coincidences that led to us being in the same place in the same city,12000 miles from home, is pretty spooky possums. We had such a good evening with them, all rather glowing in the dark.

Everyone’s seen the iconic Sydney things and there just aren’t any other ways of photographing them, so I only include a couple of pictures this time to prove we’re here. The tour of the Opera House was fascinating: what a beautiful place

and quite a poignant story about its designer and its building. I’ll bore you not (until I get home!!). I did break a cardinal rule and bought the picture they take of you on arrival. Heather thought it was for security purposes but in fact they superimposed us on to an image of the front of the Opera House, the Auditorium, a dolphin, a pirate ship and any other location of your choice. Okay just the first two but you get a CD ROM telling the story of the building so I shall get some of my facts right when I take you through it.

In the evening of our second day we ate in the Cafe Sydney – it’s where all the best people go you know – but prior to that we leaned over railings, holding each others ankles in turn, to get a glimpse of Sting who was performing at the outdoor stage of the Opera House. In fact we got quite a decent view of one of the big screens and the sound was awesome. Bit cheaper than $100 to stand inside the fence! Lucky really because Cafe Sydney took what we saved!!

We went out to Manly Beach today on the ferry: it’s a lovely ride and we had the most wonderful walk way up and out of the town. There were the most fantastic views back into the city and we really felt we were walking into the bush – I just wasn’t looking where I was going but I caused it no serious damage. The beach is busy and actually not as lovely by any means as others we have seen but we had a good long chat with the lifeguard sitting next to Heath in the picture – well, almost next to her, I’d been sitting between then until I took the picture: I mean who knows how well they might have got on!

They are doing some improvement work to the place where the ferry docks and I confess to being slightly hurt when Heather misunderstood the sign which said: “Upgrading Your Manly Wharf” and wondered if it was a clinic that might be able to do something for me. Well!!

On the way back evening was falling and I offer my picture of the Bridge.

This city is, as the Aussies say, “Fair bloody dinkum.” I love it. It’s all right mother I’m not planning to emigrate but everyone really is so friendly and helpful. People after my own heart: never use one word where twenty will do. All and any will talk the hind legs off a…kangaroo. We’ve taken Neil’s advice and talked to everyone but, in truth, most initiate the conversation themselves. I have to say, it just keeps getting better and, if that’s too hard to read well I guess you’ll just stop logging on. Just in passing I might say you’re lucky that Aus appears to be just a bit behind Europe in terms of WiFi access and only one of the hotels so far has offered it without a massive charge. I can’t believe I’m saying this but thank goodness for McDonalds.

Do let us know if you’re reading any of this nonsense by adding a comment on the blog site. We might be having the time of lives but it’s nice to know you are all still alive despite the cold, wet, grey, miserable days you’re enduring while we’re sunning ourselves out here.