Australia, tons of fun

My new possum hair sweater and cockatiel

We had such a great time in Sydney, and Melbourne, it's hard to capture the moment.  The food, arts, the scenery, the people, and the adventures.  Every day there was new excitement.  Here's some of the big memories, and actually will probably turn into their own blog posts.

Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

Landmarks-  The Rocks, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour bridge, the Opera House, Manly and Bondi beaches, and the park in Sydney, and the zoo.

Exotic (to us) food- Barramundi, Kangaroo, Crocodile, possum (just kidding! :-) )  I forget what else.  We had so much good food. 

Art- Bondi beach art walk, sculptures everywhere, Sydney art museum, Aboriginal paintings, didgeridoo, boomerangs

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool just south of the Opera House in the Royal Botanic Gardens - that's me in the blue cap!

Pools- Well, based on input from friends, I tried the pool at Bondi, where the ocean splashes into the pool,  the best swim I have ever had in a pool.  I had great luck at the hotels as well.  Certainly the Marriott in Sydney and the Langham in Melbourne.  Both had really nice atmosphere, and views.  Both were around level 9 or so, adding some drama as well.  Then, on our way back to Sydney, Kirsty found this other fantastic pool in Sydney, on the edge of the park, by the Navy ships.  Beautiful pool, infinite-style lengthwise, then big gutters at water height front and back.  Salt water, with new, nice starting blocks, probably 7 feet deep at the starting line, and of course 50 meters, like Bondi.  Yes, overlooking the bay, but not water rushing in, like Bondi.  A new high-bar for a competitive pool.

Sydney, Australia, We made it!

We arrived!  This is the view from our hotel, the Sheraton 4 Points.  We had a bit of a shuffle to get our rooms, and thank you Ravi for being so generous with yours.  We are overlooking Darling Harbour.  Just below, you can see the Botanical Gardens, and the Maritime Museum (see the submarine?)  In the background is another contemporary bridge, not the famous one by the Opera House.

A special thanks to Joyce and Jennie and Matt for all the tips and places to go.  We've now been and totally enjoyed the Circular Quay, the Rocks, the street fair in the Rocks.  We had breakfast at the City Extra Cafe.  I loved the Rocks.  Awesome shops, all of them seemed to be something special.  A few of note, Ken Done, Aboriginal paintings and didgeridoos, and boomerangs.  I also love the opals.  I was here about 10 years ago on a stopover and had 3-4 hours here.  I walked to the Opera House, and the Rocks, and a nice cappuccino.  I got some nice take homes too.  Opal jewelry for my girls at the Rock Hound, and an Aboriginal boomerang for my boy.  I digress, but it was an awesome stop then, and again today.  As exhausted as we were, we really got some good time in today, finally having a beer at O'Brians by the hotel, and realizing we better have dinner soon, as we were fading fast.  We ended up at a nice steakhouse, ironically, no one had steak, but we did have Barramundi with fennel, which was great.  Also kangaroo carpaccio and cheese souffle to name a few.  Everything was delicious!

 Sydney Cup cakes say it all.  Melbourne Cup, Boo! and I <3 U!

Iceberg Pool, Bondi Beach

Salt water 50 M pool

Auzzie size splash in the pool.  Notice the PCA swim cap?  :-)