HOLD THE PRESSES! CALL BACK THE JURY! We love Sydney!. To all of you who I complained to about Sydney, I take it back. Our first couple of days here it rained sideways. Buckets of the stuff. I know they needed it but really --did they need that much. Anyway, two days ago we thought that we should just get in the car and go find something to do. So we did. Ian has been trying to find a cousin of his mother's (Jan and husband Mervyn) for quite a while now. Wrong people from their old address and no response to the old phone number. They were supposed to come to Canada a couple of years ago but had to cancel due to illness, so we thought that maybe one of them had passed away. Anyway Ian found their last known address and started knocking on doors in their complex. Sure enough he found her. When she answered the door and Ian asked if she was Jan Locke and she said yes he said well, I'm your cousin from Canada I thought she was going to faint. She was so excited. They went to Orkney 20 years ago to meet her father's family and they still keep in touch with Ian's auntie Ethel, but they have never met any of the Canadian side including Doris (Ian's mother). She remembers her mother corresponding with Doris but they had never actually met. So we had about an hours visit with them. (a nice cup of tea and Christmas cake) We may have inspired them to try again for a visit to Canada. They are lovely people.
Next stop was Botany Bay, where Captain Cook arrived. Took some pictures and then carried on to Manly Breach. Wow! What a beach. The beach was full of surfers and joggers. Fun to watch. Ian got excited because we actually passed one of the walkers but I had to point out that he stopped to tie his shoe so that shouldn't count. These Australians sure do like to exercise. Anyway, the village of Manly is full of great little shops, cafes, hotels and pubs. Would be a great place to stay. Also, while there the sun had come full out. Yahoo!
Next stop was Watson's Bay where Doyle's restaurant is located. Doyle's restaurant alone is worth a trip to Sydney. The beach is stunningly beautiful and the restaurant patio is about 10 ft. from the water's edge. We had a view of sand, sea. beautiful homes surrounding the bay, and a gorgeous sunset. And if that wasn't enough, the food was incredible. I'm not sure I've ever had better. I had the famous Queensland King Prawns and Ian had Yellowfin Tuna topped with scallops. I took pictures of both plates before we devoured them.
Yesterday we woke to beautiful sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, so we walked down to the harbour to see the opera house, the Sydney bridge (which was actually built in Sheffield England) and then took a walk around The Rocks ( where the convicts were eventually settled). Temperature today is a comfortable 26 degrees. So we sure were lucky to come upon an Irish pub at just about lunch time.
On our way back to our hotel I found the most incredible book store (Drymmock's) It's 3 floors of books. I had a great time there. Ian was very patient but he did ask me if a senior citizen commited suicide in a children's book store, would anybody hear? I said probably not.
So to finish of our day we went to our new local ( the Edinburgh castle pub) for a couple happy hours and then found a Korean restaurant that were invited into. It was a new experience for us. The food was very good but we were the only two white faces in there. And I don't think there was anyone over the age of 21 there. And they sure do talk a lot in a funny language. I hope it wasn't about us.
So today we thought we might take a harbour cruise and walk through Hyde Park which is just across the street from us. Maybe we'll take another look at Darling Harbour as well. Tonight is our last night in this hotel. Tomorrow night we will be at the airport hotel.
Hello to all. Hope Lorne and Georgina are okay. And I hope Karen Schick is doing alright with her packing. Talk soon.
Linda and Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment