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Published: November 1st 2007
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We arrived in Sydney last Thursday afternoon, and quickly hailed a taxi, which ended up costing $10 to go a couple of blocks...we think we may have been scammed here. We then got to our hotel, the Y on the Park (YWCA) which apparently had a kitchen. However, what they call a kitchen is different to what we would call one..they had units but no cooking facilities apart from a microwave. We soon realised that this was going to turn out to be expensive (we plan to complain as we wouldn't have stayed here if we had known!). While eating out sounds like fun, it soon becomes expensive when it's all day. Luckily the hotel had breakfast included, so we could have some toast and a cuppa in the mornings. Jon has about 6 slices so that he doesn't get hungry by lunch! The hotel itself is really nice, very very central, our room is good (although the cleaners stole Fi's towel - gutted), we have a TV, and the bathrooms are clean.
But first things first...Starbucks! We are slightly addicted to them although they are only in the cities here. We plan to write to them to try to
get one in Aber for our return!! Ha ha. We spent the first day exploring the city, and Fi trying to get her bearings from the last time, luckily they came back fairly quickly! Jon was getting fed up of the crowds so has devised his own way of getting people to move...he "beep beeps" them out the way like a car horn! The first time worked a treat but the poor girl jumped out of her skin - hilarious! We also took it upon ourselves to go to Wagamama...again! We will use the excuse that we now have a points card and when we get 100 points we get a free main meal!
To be honest we have spent most days wandering round the city, sightseeing, eating and drinking! We have seen enough beaches in the past 6 weeks to last us till we get home so we haven't even been to Bondi! However, we have done a few random things.....
On Saturday day, there was a Food and Wine Fair on in Hyde Park (music to our ears..at first). It was actually really good, lots of little stalls of food and drinks that you could purchase
with vouchers bought. But being on a budget we managed to stretch to two drinks each! Quite amusing at midday! The proceeds of the fair were going to charity, so it was heaving and a really good atmosphere, luckily the sun was shining too after the storms on Friday! After this we went to Chinatown and Paddy's markets, both worth a wee look.
That night we decided that we couldn't go to Sydney without going out for a night out! So we ended up in probably our favourite part of the city centre - Darling Harbour. It's just full of bars and restaurants and great for people watching. We ended up staying in one bar most of the night (talking to a retired couple from Kent!) and unfortunately this was Fi's downfall. You know when you drink a lot without standing up in between..then when you stand up you practically fall over as you are so drunk?? Well that was Fi. Oops. She ended up 'feeding the fish' as Jon would put it, she is not proud! 😞 Jon is. But he took care of her (and videoed her drunk and sleeping - thanks.
Anyway...the next day we
went to the Rocks market which is sort of underneath the harbour bridge (without being in the water!). This is a really nice area of Sydney and has some great pubs - unfortunately we did not try them out as it was the day after the night before! But Fi decided to get rid of her hangover, and get her own back on Jon by challenging him to eat Habanero Chilli paste (which was rated 10/10 for hotness by the sauce people!). You got to eat it on a little cracker and we only had about quarter of a teaspoon. BUT (!!) the effect was hilarious. After Jon pretending to eat his, and Fi eating hers (Fi liked it, thought it was really good, very hot but not scarily so), Fi tricked Jon into eating his by telling him it wasn't that hot!! Ha ha ha. Jon's eyes practically came out his head and he spent the next 20 minutes trying to get rid of the heat and taste....evil Fi (serves him right she thinks!).
We have been to the Opera house several times (the toilets are very cool and worth a pee-k!) and we found a nice bar
next to it called 'Lenin' - this is the bar that has the Minus 5 bar in it - the bar made of ice (even the glasses) that you can only stay 30 mins in, and are given coats and gloves to wear. But there is one in Auckland so we plan to go there instead!
This week we decided to get out of the city for the day and went to Watson's Bay. This is Fi's favourite place in Sydney and is beautiful. It has great views of Sydney and is very chilled out. We had great Fish n Chips (again!) from Doyle's which is famous for it. Having got the bus there we decided to get the ferry back to the city centre. This was a great idea as you pretty much get a very cheap cruise into Sydney Harbour, and it was only a dollar or so more than the bus!
So that's it really! Sounds pretty boring but it's not! We maybe should have done lots more things but we have been very happy chilling out and not trying to do everything! The city is great, but we are very excited about going to
New Zealand tomorrow! A change of scene is in order and we hope that it won't be as expensive as here! Or as many flies!
Enjoy this last Oz blog! Next place Christchurch!
Leave your comments, they are great to read!
Lots of Love,
Jonny & Fi
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lizzie
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Hey both, Looks like your having a good time, minus the biting insects! Some of your pics have brought back lots of memories for me....especially darling Harbour and Watsons Bay (Also one of my fave places in sydney...but where I lost my rings in the sea!) Not a lot to report from this neck of the woods really. Huw and I are off Skiing in Jan! there is a group of 10 of us...quite a random group but should be good! I am still settleing in to my new job in the uni, it is a bit boring but i'll see how it goes. Anyway keep me posted! so to speak. Lot's of love. lizzie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx