Tim & Denise Tiner Travels: 2017 Australia - Day 8

February 17, 2017

Whew...what a day. I think we have walked the Australia coast today...only it was sites in Sydney! Feet are killing us. But here is how the day went.

The sleep last night was not our best. It was pretty warm most of the evening even though we had a fan blowing on us most of the night. The apartment was, by far, the biggest that we have had. Too bad we could not stay there a bit longer.

After we showered and ate, we packed up, loaded the car and off we went to Sydney. We dialed in the Sydenham Train station for our target point. We drove hoping to find parking. Well...after an hour or so drive through some pretty heavy traffic, we arrived at the station. But there was no parking to be had, anywhere. It was a zoo frankly. So we quickly plugged in our BnB for the night as the host said that there is parking on the street by his house always. So off we went. That was only a few minutes away. Google Maps decided to get us close...but not as close as we wanted to be. So we kind of figured out where it was...and only driving wrong up a one way road once, we made it and found some parking. This was about 10 AM. We could not get into the studio apartment until 2 PM. So off we went on foot back to the Sydenham Train Station. It took us probably 20 minutes on foot. But it was hot and muggy...which kind of became the mantra for the mid-morning and early afternoon.

We had purchase 'Opal' cards and put $20 AUD on each for our transportation. Turns out that $15 is the max one will pay in a day using all their transportation including ferries. That was pretty cool, actually. We figured we'd hit that easily each day and more.

We headed to Circle Quay...the point near most landmarks most people want to see (The Sydney Harbor Bridge, The Opera House, etc.). Once we arrived, we began our hiking for the day...a hike up a hill to get to the point of journey across the bridge. It was quite the hike and walk across the bridge. But we made it. On the other side, we decided to get some health food to energize us (Nachos...with stuff I've never seen on Nachos before). :-) They were quite good though. Once that was consumed, we went up to the train platform above us (Mission Point Station) to catch the train to Museum Station where we needed to catch bus 333 to get us to Bondi Beach. And believe it or not...we did it!

Bondi Beach....well, if you got it, flaunt it. That was the theme there. Not much left to the imagination there with so many people on this quite picturesque beach. Although we packed swimsuits and they did have changing areas, we decided to just do the hike to Bronte Beach. Using Google Maps, we tried to follow the way to Bronte from Bondi. Well...we were walking up and down hills on streets lined with houses. How was that type of walk so special we kept asking. Well, after getting close to Bronte Beach, we noticed a trail that was lower that winded around the beautiful out coves between Bondi and Bronte. Google Maps...what a mistake. Coming back we followed that trail. Oh my...worth the walk back. And it was fairly leave most of the way. Big difference. We were both upset that we had done what we had done.

Once we got back to Bondi Beach, we grabbed some Gelato...our afternoon ice cream fix. We ate this as we waited for bus 380 that would take us out to Watson's Bay, to see the sites there and get some early seafood. It took a pretty good while to get from Bondi to Watson's Bay on the bus. But it was worth it. But while we were riding, the skies started to darken with lightening and rain starting to strike and fall. Before it got too bad, we got some pictures of the sea coast there and then headed to well known seafood place named Doyle's By The Sea. They have a fancy restaurant there. But they also have a nice open air market where you could get a seafood dish. So we decided to eat an earlier than normal dinner and split a seafood platter. It was really good. We ate this while waiting for the Ferry that would take us back, via water, to Circle Quay where we kind of began the touring day. But the rain really came down hard while we were on the ferry. And what would have been an awesome picture taking opportunity was rained on. Such a bummer. Now, it was about 5:30 PM. So quickly we went to a Tourism booth to get info on what we can do tomorrow using ferries and such. We got some good stuff. We hope to get a good day in even though there is a 90% chance of rain. Oh well...what do you do.

The good news about today is that Denise has been checking of things that people have recommended to taste or buy. Potato Wedges with chili sauce and a Violet Crumble ( a crazy expensive candy bar). She now wants Emu Pizza....really? :-)

We eventually arrived back to where our car was parked. The door into our apartment was about 15 feet away. We did not know that at the time of parking. So that is good. The apartment is small, but quite perfect. We will like being here a couple of nights.

We looked at driving out to the Sydney Temple tonight. But, traffic is so bad and it is about a 55 minute drive away....per Google...if you trust that App. We decided to just get showered and get relaxed for the evening. And that is what we are going to do. Until tomorrow....last day in Australia...we think.

Pictures...

The stairs to our flat in Otford...on the coast line. It sat on a hill and the stilts you see are supporting the main floor where our host, Maureen, resided.

Our front door to the flat....

The kitchen area....

The bedroom...

The wrap around porch....

Me finishing my cereal and toast breakfast....

The train station....

Walking the Sydney Harbor Bridge....

Crazies walking up the Sydney Harbor Bridge....

The famous Opera House....nice picture from where we were at on the bridge....

Nachos...you tell me what is on them. Nothing like I've had before. But they were pretty yummy...

Bus ride to Bondi...

You see graffiti everywhere down here. Good artists they are....

Bondi Beach....

Walking the trail to Bronte Beach....

Some steep climbs....

Some steep drop offs....this picture does not show it...but it is a sheer cliff behind me. That's as close as I would get.

These type of walls lined the walkway that we took between beaches.

At one point, there was a family who had a drone. You can see it in the air. They are waving to it as it was getting pictures. Then that guy sent that drone so far out to sea...you could not see it...it was so far. I was amazed by it. So darn cool!!!!

This was a pool that sat just barely above the sea line. High tide must fill the darn pool up! Who knows?

Watson's Bay arrival. You can see the clouds starting to gather. Wish we captured some of the lightening strikes near us.

Watson's Harbor looking into Sydney....

For a moment, the sun came out and I took this picture of a nice home on Watson's Bay. I think it is a home. It's a nice building nonetheless....

More of Watson's Bay....

With rain coming down, I still got to the front of the Ferry to grasp a picture of the bridge and the Opera House. I wish it was a blue sky day. We're hoping for some sunshine tomorrow.