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We got up yesterday and walked along the foreshore to Kings Wharf to meet the boat for our lunch cruise. When we woke up we thought ,oh well I suppose the forecasters have to get it right eventually if they say rain everyday.It was tipping down. However by the time breakfast was done it had pretty much stopped.
We had coffee while the boat docked and then went aboard. We had a table for two with a window seat. On the next table were Neil and Jules. Two retired teachers. She was Irish and he was an Oz. In fact he had never left Oz. Really nice people and we spent the next 3 hours eating, drinking and musing on the world and their wife. We had such an enjoyable time we never went to the upper deck to see the pianist.....sorry Steve. He had been on the dockside with us with his electric piano under his arm.
In all, a fab lunch with super views of the harbour area. Our bar man had run a tab for me so we settled up and tottered off the ship. Sea legs and booze legs. We looked like Bambi on ice. It was 4pm we were well fed, well oiled and content. What next?
When you're in the mood you just are. So it was a mini pub crawl round Sydney followed by a picnic on our hotel room floor looking out the big window to sea. Asleep by 10pm, what a disgrace !!!
This morning the sun re-appeared. We ate breakfast then walked to the central quay and caught the ferry to Manly. It was a 20 minute blat on the fast ferry. I had said to Neil yesterday I was amazed at how many different types of vessel were on the water. Everything from the Sun Princess cruise ship to people stood on surf boards with a paddle. I'm surprised they don't hit each other I said. Oh don't worry they do said Neil. Sure enough on the news this morning ' 11 injured when Sydney harbour party boat collides with moored vessels' Oh well it wasn't ours.
Anyway I digress. Back to Manly. So called because when the governor first arrived and saw Aboriginal men half naked on the beach he said ' Dont they look manly'.He sounds a little dodgy to me.
Its all a bit odd here at the moment. Lots of people are having office Christmas parties and running round with Santa hats on. Its 80c and all a bit surreal.
So, back to Sunday at the beach. Lots of surfers and sunbathers. Then a short walk to the far end of the beach and there are two big council supplied BBQs. Seems you just turn up cook your food, crack a tinnie and enjoy the day.
It was a pleasant couple of hours. I must admit I love the ferry rides. Big boats with massive engines. As soon as they clear the quay and open them up whoosh. Stood on deck while they crash the waves is great.
Back on dry land its a quick shower and change and we head off to Kings Cross. There are lots of areas and streets with English place names. Kings Cross is meant to be a cross between our Kings Cross and Soho. Its the gay area of Sydney. Ok its basically one long street Darlinghurst Rd lined with bars and adult shops etc. One beer and a walk up and down and we were bored. So we jumped on the tube and headed to Central Quay for dinner. You pay a premium but it is nice to sit and see the harbour bridge as the sun goes down.
After dinner its back to the hotel for a glass of red on the dock outside. I shouldn't have pointed out the first cockroach which came up from the water below and ran across the dock. Jill is now in eeeeeek mode and has her feet in the air sipping red while scanning for roaches. Me? I'll have a crunchy snack with my Merlot !!!
Tomorrow we think we will go to the maritime museum.
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