Sydney

Leaving Adelaide and the cousins was not easy as we'd had such a good time. It was great spending time with family who you have not seen for years and getting to know better those who were more familiar.

Our flight to Sydney was on time and uneventful, just how you want it to be. We were met at the airport by Jackie and Kath, friends of at least 40 years standing and so the start of the next chapter of this journey begins.
The plan was to spend time with Jackie, Kath and Syd, Kath's partner, in Sydney for a couple of days and then we all fly to New Zealand together for three of the four weeks John and I had planned. We were all excited to see each other and had a lot to say to catch up on all our travels.

Our first stop in Sydney was to our Bed and Breakfast with their friend Bob. Bob had recently lost his dear partner of 50 years, Ron, and had decided to try running a B&B for both company and a bit of extra income; we were the guinea pigs! Bob was just lovely, going out of his way to make us comfortable and feel at home, it was more like staying in a friend's house than as a paying guest. He has a way with animals and birds; he has two dogs Jessie and Cina who are much loved and very spoiled and the local birds know just when to visit to be hand fed meat or whole grain bread - it was quite and experience. We called him Dr Doolittle and it seems Ron called him that too!

The views from the front windows of Bob's house were mesmerising - they overlook the mouth of Sydney harbour and all the traffic going in and out was displayed in front of you. I could have spent the two days we had there just looking out of the window ... that was not to be.

After leaving our luggage, we met Ian, a friend of Kath and Syd, who has been Jackie's brilliant tour guide whilst she has been in Sydney and had offered to do the same for us. We toured around some of the sights of Manly where we were staying and saw amazing views of the surrounding beaches from the high spots around the city. I was really surprised by how hilly everywhere was. I am not sure why I should be so mistaken but I had imagined that Sydney and the surrounds to be flat and this is far from the case. After the 'Cooks tour' of Manly we went back to Chrissy and John's house, where Kath, Syd and Jackie were staying, for a delicious Fish Pie. I say delicious as that is just what it was but it was also a particular dish I had been hankering for since we left home, so I am afraid I ate more than my fill.

The next two days were spent exploring Sydney and the surrounding area. We took the ferry from Manly round to Sydney Circular Quay. It quite takes your breath away when you see the iconic images of both Sydney Opera house and the Harbour Bridge come into view. Once again a case of John and I saying to each other 'who would believe that we would be here'. We felt very special and privileged to be there.

I think the thing which surprised me more than anything was seeing the exterior of the Opera House. From a distance it looks a flat off-white colour but up close you can see it is made of blocks of textured tiles, some of which are glazed and the edge ones are shaded a darker cream than the others. Looking at the building from just a short distance this cannot be seen but I am sure this enhances the overall effect.

We watched people walking over the Harbour Bridge and did not for one minute feel envious. It was high, blowy and and looked like a long walk - not for me I think. But it was interesting watching them going over as it gave a degree of perspective to the whole structure. Later we took the ferry over to Cockatoo Island which took us under the bridge. The island has had a chequered past of housing convicts as workers and as a reformatory for both girls and boys; the latter didn't last long as keeping the two on the same island caused some foreseeable difficulties. During the last war the Island came into its own for ship building and we went into the turbine halls which were vast.

Back with our friends in the evening, we went to the RSL (Returned Soldiers League) Club for a meal. We were very impressed by it, the food was good and cheap (subsidised) and the drink was also reasonably priced. There were wonderful facilities too with comfortable lounges and a super terrace. We are unsure how this was all funded but every place should have one.
The next day we went to Palm Beach (again taken by Ian who was wonderful) the trip there and back was super as the scenery is again breathtaking. We had lunch in a seaside restaurant, it was in fact the old seaplane shed and the fish and chips were to die for. Palm Beach is where they film the 'Home and Away ' soap and where the rich and famous have their seafront getaways. Going back to Manly we took the scenic route with Ian pointing out these bijou palaces. There is so much to see and clearly we've barely scratched the surface so it was often said that we have to return to see more of what Sydney has to offer.
Our final evening in Sydney was spent at our friendly B&B and being spoiled by Bob. The following day it was up and about very early, off to New Zealand and the start of the penultimate part of the adventure