The Australia and new Zealand Adventure
November 2015 - January 2016
Wednesday 11th November 2015:
And so the adventure begins - with a slightly fraught journey by taxi to Heathrow at rush hour. Traffic was stationary for much of the time - never a good sign when trying to catch a plane. But we got to Heathrow on time to board our BA flight to Sydney via Singapore. And in time to buy some duty free.
The first leg to Singapore was fine. We had 90 minutes at Changi airport during which time we had to leave the plane taking our hand luggage with us so that they could clean the plane. On reboarding, Singapore Security confiscated all the duty free which was in bottles or jars of over 100ml - which was most of it. Deeply frustrating. The duty free shop at Heathrow, despite looking at our boarding card, had not told us that this would happen.
Anyway we tried to put this frustration behind us and managed to sleep pretty well on the final leg to Sydney.
Friday 13th November 2015:
The plane touched down at Sydney Airport at around 6.30 am. Security was okay. We bought an Opal card for our transport needs and caught the train to central Sydney. Timing was good. We had to collect the key to our apartment from Copydex store just as it was opening. So by 8.30 am we were in the apartment which would be out home in Sydney for the next four weeks.
We had, with a degree of trepidation, decided to use Airbnb to find an apartment in Sydney rather than stay in a hotel. We'd had a number of positive conversations, in advance of our arrival, with Neil, the apartment owner. And the apartment was exactly as described; a modern two bedroom apartment on the edge of the Sydney Central Business District. It was more cluttered with Neil's stuff than we had expected. I had thought that Neil lived somewhere else and that this apartment was always rented out, but it is obviously his only residence and therefore contains all of his staff. Neil will be in Cape Town during our stay. But the apartment is clean, has all of the facilities we need and I am sure will be a good base for the next four weeks.
Saturday 14th November 2015:
Time to explore. We took a stroll around Sydney, through the main part of the City up to Circular Quay and the Opera House. I lived in Sydney for a year in 1979, so I could not help but reflect on my time there 36 years ago. Of course it has changed, but not in a major way. The view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Opera House is a stunning as ever.
Sunday 15th November 2015:
It was a bit cool and cloudy, but we decided anyway to head for Sunday lunch at Watson's Bay. The view out to sea was amazing, the vista in the other direction towards the city was vast and beautiful. We just obtained a table at the famous Doyle's fish restaurant. Yes the meal was pricey, but surely one of the best fish and chips have ever eaten. Moist fresh Barrimundi. Wonderful.
Monday 16th November 2015:
It had been 36 years since I had a swim at Redleaf Pool. In fact it has been renamed the Murray Rose pool since then, but otherwise it has not changed at all. It is an inner city bay with a fence surrounding it to keep out sea creatures and also large waves. I loved it today as much as I loved it all those years ago. For someone whose swimming ability is not great, it is the perfect place to swim.
This evening we headed for a classical music concert in the Opera House. The final piece, Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is one of my favourites. We are still not quite over jet lag, so it was difficult to keep awake at the end, but it was a good concert and of course great to experience a concert in the iconic Opera House.
Tuesday 17th November:
We went to City Gym this morning and I had an afternoon walk to Mrs MacQarrie's chair, which is lovely spot on the edge of the botanical gardens. In the evening, we had an excellent Thai meal in Stanley Street. The benefits of living on the edge of the city include the ability to walk to all of these places.
Wednesday 18th November:
I have been considering whether or not to do the bridge climb. Of course it is listed as one of the things to do in Sydney, but I don't have a good head for heights and it does cost upwards of $300. So today we had a stroll to the Rocks and then walked over the bridge. Great views, and all for free. Not sure that the bridge climb would add a lot.
Thursday 19th November:
Back to the Opera House for a performance of Hamlet. Mind you our performance in getting there was a bit of a drama. We failed to get off the bus at the last stop before it headed over the Harbour Bridge. So we had to sit on the bus in heavy traffic as we went over the bridge and into the wrong half of Sydney. Then we had to come all the way back again on another bus. We still made it, just, to the theatre but a relaxing journey was rather more stressful than it should have been. The performance of Hamlet was a bit disappointing. Heavily overacted and not very original.
Friday 20th November:
Today was Sydney's hottest November day since 1982. 42C. And certainly it was hot. So we went to the Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool during the afternoon. We sat on the shady side and had frequent dips in the pool. Very relaxing.
Saturday 21st November:
Weird weather. 42C Thursday. 20C today. We went to Bondi and did the walk around the headland to Tamarama. Locally known as glamarama - but not on a cold day like today.
Sunday 22nd November:
We took advantage of the Sunday travel discounts. Bus to Parammatta and boat back. Excellent Pizza lunch in Parammatta. Not a scenic journey outwards, but Paramatta was nice, especially down by the river. Sauntered over to the Opera House afterwards for an indigenous music and dance performance. Had a Prosecco overlooking the harbour and enjoying the sunset.
