G'day all and a big "how are you going" or "hair yer gurn" as it's pronounced here. We've spent the last 5 days exploring this awesome city and catching up with friends and truly loved it. We flew in and got the train to McMahon's Point which is a little spit of land to the north of the harbour looking back over all the sights. We stayed with Caroline who lives in an amazing flat overlooking the harbour. We had once again peaked. After a celebratory glass (or two) of wine, we'd settled in. Caroline told us the weather for the next 5 days was going to be 27 degrees and sunny. This put a smile on our slowly-fading-but-still-quite-tanned faces. Next day we went on a full-on walking tour of Sydney. We started by walking on the footpath, over the Harbour Bridge to Circular Quay which is the main ferry port in town. We then wandered around to the Opera House and started taking photos like mad. At one point we were taking them at a rate similar to the Japanese tourists (about 5 clicks a second). We figured one of them had to be a keeper!! We headed to Wooloomooloo for a pie, mash, mushy peas and gravy lunch. Photo should be in the folder. Trust me, it's true ambrosia, food of the gods. A lunch like this could only really be washed down with a schooner (aussie half pint) of lager. Wonderful. I then dragged Leanne around all my old haunts and bored her completely. First stop my old house. It hadn't changed. Still the unspoiled National Trust-type mansion I remember it being back in 99/00. We then walked around for an hour or so and i kept pointing to things and reminiscing about 99. Bless her for staying next to me and for looking interested. That evening we met my mate Gutsy and his new wife Fiona for dinner which was excellent. He was on great form and his new wife is top drawer.
Next day we decided to wash some clothes but due to some minor misjudgements we had a truly sud-tastic experience. The mop, bucket and several pieces of kitchen roll were called in to action and several hours later, after one hell of a clean up operation and the longest ever "quick wash" cycle we were ready to hang up our extremely clean clothes. We celebrated by going to Manly on the ferry. For those of you who've never been, this is THE ferry trip to do as it gives amazing harbour views. Manly is a fun, youthy sort of place, popular with surfers, sun worshippers and sporty types. In fact the female vollyball players on the beach actually gave the town it's name!!!
Next day we went round Darling Harbour and saw the fish market, before heading over to Bondi to meet Seano a local actor and all round top fella. He took us to the talent agency he works for and showed us around. Most of the people on the books frequenty appear in Home and Away and other Aussie soaps that are no longer popular in the UK. That night we stayed with Duncan and Mags, my uni mates. It was very good to see them.
Next day we climbed the Harbour Bridge. It was expensive but on of those once in a lifetime jobbies and we loved it. The very top is apparently a proposal hotspot and the woman in front of Leanne was convinced I was going to go down on one knee. The lady hadn't told me about her premonition though and after nothing was said at the top she gave me evil looks the whole way down. She then turned to Leanne and said "Oh well, maybe he'll take you to the Eiffel Tower." Leanne told her we'd already been there, with a similar outcome. The evil look I got from the lady after Leanne told her that could have shattered stone. Apart from this crazy lady, the whole experience was amazing and the beer afterwards was one of the best and one of the most expensive of our lives.
It's safe to say we are both now completely in need of some relaxation and are heading to Byron Bay for 4 days of lying on beaches and learning to surf. We are very sad to be leaving Sydney, truly one of the best cities in the world, tied with London, New York and Frant. The hospitality of all our friends has been second to none and we've loved it.
Good on you Sydney or "Onya" as they say here.