Thursday, 7 February 2008

Sydney 4th - 7th February






















Sydney, Monday,4th – Thursday, 7th February

Hi folks,

We have now finished our time in New Zealand and have returned to Sydney for ten days. We had a good flight from New Zealand to Sydney, taking about 3 hours, but our landing was anything but. We could not see the ground for cloud and mist until about 100ft up and the landing was a little bumpy, but when we saw the weather the pilot had done well, because boy was it raining, and I mean raining. Now unbelievably this rain has continued in the most part except for a short time yesterday.

After we landed we got a taxi straight to our hotel, still pouring with rain. When we checked in to the hotel we found that because we were staying for more than 3 nights we had been upgraded. We were on the 33rd floor out of 34 floors, so not quite the Penthouse, but the views are magnificent. We have breakfast included (served between 6.30am and 10.30am), and tea and coffee served throughout the day. We get broadband internet free, so this comes in handy for our blog and speaking to the children on SKYPE. Also included are evening beverages and canapés from 5.30pm until 7.30pm. Sometimes this means we do not need to go out for a meal, if we are tired – and that is most evenings (or it is raining!!!!!).

On Tuesday, 5th the weather was overcast and humid so we didn’t feel like doing much so we had a wander round the Botanic Garden quite good, but not up to English standard. However, one thing they had that we don’t is one foot bats. Over the café area were hundreds of bats (flying foxes), mainly in the trees, but a few flying about. We then walked down to the Opera House, along with hundreds of other people. Quite an impressive building.

When we woke up on Wednesday the 6th. Hurray, it wasn’t raining and we had blue sky. It looked as though it was going to be a gorgeous day, so we creamed up and decided we would go to Watsons Bay, famous for Doyles a well known fish restaurant. Watsons Bay was quite attractive and we walked around the headland, accompanied by some man who just started talking to us. He was about 70+ and he had been based in Sydney during the war and showed us all the gun emplacements. We than went back to the main area with the intention of having lunch at Doyles, but the queue was horrendous, so we jumped on the ferry and headed back to Circular Quay. We thought we would try Doyles there – this proved to be a better option and we had a very nice lunch. John Dory and Barrumunda. Our time this day seemed to be spent jumping on an off ferries. We got on a ferry round to Darling Harbour, saw the Maritime exhibition, more shops, (much to Geoff’s disgust). We then returned to the hotel and eventhough I had creamed up I had got sunburnt on the bits I had missed. It had started to rain again, and guess what a thunderstorm. Ugh.

Thursday, 7th we woke up again to cloudy blue skies, looked like being another nice day, but how wrong can you be. We jumped on the ferry and went for a 40minute ride to Manly. Alison, you didn’t tell us about the swell as you go round the point. Didn’t like that very much. Anyway Manly looked very nice, lots of guys with their surfboards doing the waves. As it had then decided to start spitting with rain, I decided to wander around Manly and Geoffrey went for a walk to Shelly Beach. I am sure you remember this well, Alison. The spitting of rain got to a downpour, the developed into a full blown thunderstorm. With lightening and thunder over Sydney. I was OK, as I was jumping in and out of shops, but when Geoffrey returned he was like a drowned rat and soaked through to his …….. I’ll let you guess. Anyway we found a nice restaurant and after a beer and steak sandwich and chips, we felt reinvigorated and jumped on the ferry back to Circular Quay for guess what, another walk round the shops (Geoff even more disgusted). While I am typing this he is lying on the bed looking through the Angsana Spa (at the hotel) booklet, trying to see what will help with his stress, because of my retail therapy. However, might I just add, that I have no money, so I will need him if I see anything. Ahhhh, perhaps this is why he needs the spa therapy. We are just thinking of going down for drinks and canapés, don’t think we will go out tonight, it is still pouring of rain!!!!!!!

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