Published 19/04/15
Wednesday 11th March 2015
With 24 hour tickets and a short section that we'd skipped yesterday, we climbed aboard the open top bus again first thing and alighted at Circular Quay. We spent a small amount of time exploring Customs House Library, admiring the three-dimensional map set underneath the ground floor and discovering a huge model of the Sydney Opera House at the entrance of their offices on a higher floor. We also found an appealing exhibition of African Australian photographs amongst the books and we read the stories of the subjects with interest. It's always a pleasure to uncover something unexpected just when you are pottering.
Next we enjoyed some morning tea in a cafe near the State Library and visited the Lynley Dodd exhibition. The statue of Matthew Flinders' cat always amuses me when I pass it and returning to the same attraction with fresh eyes uncovered some fantastic stained glass.
During the afternoon we rode the ferry to Watsons Bay to realise that there wasn't actually much there but we enjoyed the ferry trip through the harbour and a view out to sea anyway.
Then we continued to Rose Bay where we wandered along the shop lined main street, browsing a book shop and treating ourselves to chocolates. Mine made me feel like a student at Hogwarts!
Returning to the ferry terminal, we paddled through the sea and mid way we met a storm tunnel where the sea covered the beach as a small inlet to the wall. It reminded me of the dilemma at Mission Beach when I had to roll my trousers up and they still got wet! Luckily this was much shallower, only mid-calf rather than mid-thigh high, and I let mum test the depth before I followed behind!
After returning by ferry to Circular Quay and taking a nap at the apartment, we had dinner at Macchiato.
It was strange to be woken by the alarm at 7am this morning but we had to be ready early for a tour of the Opera House. Leaving the apartment at 8ish, we walked through Hyde Park and past the 'lucky boar' outside the Sydney Hospital. If you put money into the fountain and rub its nose it brings good luck.
After walking alongside the Botanical Gardens we made it to the Opera House to find we would be taking the tour with the same guide that showed me round back in October! During this tour we saw the studio decked out with chairs and tables for an intimate show. The tours always take in both of the big theatres but only one of the two smaller spaces so I hadn't seen the studio last time.
When the tour was complete we decided to spend the afternoon in Manly but didn't want to rush for a ferry so chilled in Circular Quay before the next ferry. During the journey to past the Queen Victoria ship - a huge cruise liner which dwarfed the Harbour Bridge. It was docked out in the harbour because the Queen Mary was also in town and to celebrate them both being in the same location there were fireworks in the evening which mum went to see.
In Manly we wandered to the beach on the coastal side and enjoyed the view from the shade. I devoured a delicious burrito while Mum was reasonably disappointed with her quaesadillas and we soon realised that it was far to hot to sit on the beach as we'd planned. Instead we enjoyed Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the shade and watched a swimming/surfing PE lesson in the sea. You can't imagine that happening in the UK!
Taking advantage of the air conditioning, we wandered round the shops before returning to the apartment on the ferry and bus. Before choir we took advantage of the quiet, luxurious swimming pool and after rehearsal I had a quick drink at the pub.
Friday 13th March 2015
After a busy day in the sun yesterday, today was quite the opposite. The weather was miserable so although I was awake reasonably early we had a slow start, making use of the pool and jacuzzi again. Once we were dry we strolled up to Pitt Street Mall and then took the train to Green Square. When we left the station Mum wondered where on earth I was taking her as we walked through an industrial estate. There were a couple of treasure troves awaiting us and the first was Mitchell Road Antique and Design Centre - a warehouse full of all sorts of unimaginable artefacts.
Finally we made it to the Grounds of Alexandria. Standing next to the sign Mum was still unsure of where she was but as soon as we entered she realised it was a little oasis in the middle of sububarban industry and loved it!
After lunch we took the bus to Bondi Junction in the hope that the drizzling rain would ease... but it didn't! So we deserted our plans to walk from Bondi to Bronte and returned to the city. As the weather still wasn't in our side we went to the cinema to see the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which I enjoyed more than the first. We filled the evening with a FaceTime call to Dad and several card games.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware. - Martin Buber
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