The last days Down Under

Waterside view of the opera house

The last days were filled with sun, beach time, hunting coffee shops and other tourist-like behavior such as shopping. We spent our last days in Sydney with a quick hop up to Melbourne. In between times we stayed with amazing friends in Geelong.

Beautiful, postcard perfect days invited us to walk the streets of Sydney forgoing the train. We found out on our second to last day that the train is quite a reasonable (price) mode of transport. Ah well, we enjoyed the city life walking everywhere and seeing the city at hustle and bustle moments. The walk now signal jarring beeping did get old after the second day.

We took ourselves on a walking tour around Darling Harbor. The sun refused to play hide and seek with the skyscrapers and instead amused itself in the reflections of the glossy buildings. I must note, the shade was sparse as the trees were young and we were on the sun side of the tall giants.

Stairs here and there challenged our muscles when the hills went flat. The steps quickly accumulated, the miles rolled on and still we walked. Sunglasses out, hats on (okay, I ‘borrowed’ hubs cap) and fueled with water we ventured on. (We walked 12 miles and change that day or approximately 12 kilometers.)

Eventually we found the Sydney harbor bridge and a bit longer later we found the stairs to the bridge level and the walking path. Briefly, we contemplated doing the bridge climb but the reality of limited time left in the city nixed that one. So we walked the whole bridge (and back).

Our last day in the city we headed for the beach. Originally we had thought to head to Bondi beach. Turns out, as we were vehicle-less, it would involve quite a few bus and train switches to get there. Next choice up, Manley beach. A short train ride to the land of ferries, a ‘fast ferry’ later and we were walking the handful of blocks to the beach. They weren’t kidding about the fast part. We practically skated and flew over the choppy water. Thank you strong winds.

Passing the other ferries

It was a beautiful day, perfect for the beach. Sun’s out, really windy and no swimming. Apparently the riptide was strong and the only ‘swimming’ allowed was wading in ankle deep water. I chilled on the beach and soaked in a few rays while hubs determinedly changed and, channeling his inner five year-old, sat in the water. He managed to enjoy the water and the warm sun, even in all his blinding winter tan glory. Haha.

A short scold from the life guard because Hubs went out to his knees.

Then we were packing up and flying back to Geelong and our friends. The camaraderie, coffee and chats with our Aussie friends are something that we will always remember. As a last hurrah, hubs suggested we pop up for the day to Melbourne. And so we went via train. It was so fun to see the countryside roll by with the swaying of the cars with the occasional gentle, timely stops interspersed.

Melbourne was overwhelming as we only had the day. We headed for the Yarra river and found respite in the shade of gently rustling trees. Coffee was a little harder to track down and find. While hubs roamed the shops along the river, I scouted for the appropriate seating to while the day away. A family vacated the perfect bench under a big shady tree with a view of the river and its travelers.

Now that is the way to spend the day. Sipping coffee, talking (or not), watching people head for somewhere and the boats or rowing teams troll the river. Serene, peaceful and relaxing.

View from the sky deck

Our one touristy thing we had to check off, at hubs’ insistence, was the Sky Deck. Its only 89 floors above the ground. The building sways slightly in the unseen wind but the 360 view offsets that slightly disturbing feeling. I don’t know what I’m looking at besides the general ‘cityscape’ view but it was inspiring.

The exit sign at the sky deck :)

Eventually we located the correct train back to Geelong and our friends. The day of departure back to the wintry land of Canuckland dawned and found us with our bags packed. The bags may have been slightly weighed down with souvenirs and gifts. Hugs, smiles and goodbyes all around and we were off to the airport! Hubs Aussie parents drove us back to the airport. Disbelief had us wondering how the time went so quickly.

No matter how quickly the time went, the sights we saw and the people we met; the photos and memories will always go with us. And our friends are just a phone or video call away. Until then. And until Australia calls us to return.

 May your week be filled with grace, sunshine and a cuppa rose tea latte. I leave you with this beach view at Manley beach.

It's looking a lot like an adventure... in Sydney

Our picturesque view from the Sydney Harbour Bridge

From the Great Ocean Road winding along beautiful ocean vistas we went onward to Sydney. It’s practically a hop, skip and a jump via airplane. I’m told it would be an all-day drive by car or train.

Traveling by train is quite the adventure as we navigated the ‘how-to’s’ like buying an Opal card and loading it with a prescribed dollar amount. The gentleman helping us at the customer service window was very kind and helpful. I’m thinking we had that tourist vibe going or maybe it was our question of how to determine which train we wanted that gave us away? Of course, we found ourselves caught up in the after-work rush hour so the train was quite full.

A few stops later we landed at our stop; figured out that we had to swipe our Opal cards to get out of the station (thank goodness for a crowd, they inadvertently were our examples) and then we were free. The streets were bustling with people and skyscrapers loomed above, hiding the sun. Turns out that our hotel was a five-minute walk from the station. We discovered this after we found the hotel. And that there was a side street we could’ve taken as a shortcut. Again, after we found the hotel. Although it did come in handy during our stay.

Ahhh, air conditioning, how I missed you on the train ride and the walk to the hotel. Hubs, not particularly keen on air conditioning, volunteered to find a grocery store and supper. Once he returned, I was fascinated to find out that the grocery store was hidden in the basement aka underground level of a big shopping plaza/business office towers complex. There weren’t signs pointing to ‘grocery store this way.’ Apparently, hubs asked someone for directions. Haha. On his way back he encountered a Thai restaurant and, later, we agreed the food was delicious.

Our first full day in Sydney we wandered, on foot, finding coffee shops and bakeries. Noting restaurants for later we watched cars drive by with no apparent parking anywhere (street parking was in a very small ratio to the number of cars on the streets). We perused a few shops, enjoyed the gardens where the hustle of city life faded and the trills and chirps of birds took over. People, reminiscent of cats and dogs lounging in the sun, napped on the vibrant emerald green lawn as they basked in the full glory of the sun. I stuck to the tempting cool patches of shade (I’d forgotten sunscreen) and I was hot. It was a little muggier here than it had been along the Great Ocean Road.

Intentionally, we had no plan for this day other than coffee, chill, get a few steps in and repeat. That evening we were attending an opera performance of The Merry Widow at the famous Sydney Opera House. I was excited! The opera had been my top request of sight-seeing and hubs indulged me. As the opera house was only two kilometers away we decided to walk. My workhorse, with classy undertones, travel purse managed to hold my black high heels while I wore black tennis shoes. Two kilometers is about 1.9 kilometers farther than I’d walk in high heels, especially with the gently rolling and descending path.

Our view from the Sydney Harbour Bridge

I’m sure we were a sight, in our evening attire for the opera, as we briskly sauntered the straight shot from the hotel to the opera. Interestingly, we were normal and didn’t receive any curious looks. Must be that city life with all kinds of ‘fashion.’

The show was amazing! Even with the added bonus of meeting someone from Denver, CO all the way here, in Sydney, the show and experience was pure memory gold. Even hubs enjoyed the new experience. Clearly, he only attends a symphony with me out of duty as they’re not his favorite. The radio turned up and cruising down the rows in the field in his trusty tractor, now that’s more his thing.

Earlier that day, walking through a park

After we paused by the entrance, gotta switch the footwear, we discovered it was raining. Not any ol’ rain either but coming down in sheets. The taxi lineup was a good sprint and a half away, in the rain. Our route back, also covered in rain. Umbrella? Nope, the weather forecast had shown zero chance of precipitation. Hmm. We waited and waited. No, I’m kidding, we waited about ten minutes and it slowed to a fine misting drizzle. Perfect for our walk.

The gardens we walked through were lovely, dark and damp. The light globes were shrouded partially in the mist and music drifted sleepily, almost lazily on by from a concert nearby. The trees stood tall above us creating a natural arbor from the mist. A clock struck the half hour and it echoed quietly, muffled in the mist and the wind toying with the trees. It was a perfect night for a walk.

May your week (and weekend) be of good cheer, green (St. Patrick’s day anyone?!) and good coffee at hand.

Sun on my face, wind in my hair, a beach… life is bliss

A picturesque view on the Great Ocean Road

A frisky breeze toyed with the frost-like tipped waves and chilled my face while the hot rays of the sun played tag with the breeze, warming my face.  The chatter of voices zipped like seagulls on the breeze over the crashing drums of the ocean. An ocean so blue slipped out to the horizon but seeing people on the beach so far below distracted my ocean-gazing.

We were at Gibson’s Steps. Just a few steps and we could be strolling on the sand; right at ocean, and  wave, level.  No clouds hiding the sun means more sunscreen, yay. Just a few steps though, right?

Only a few steps up or down, eh?

Narrow steps carved into the cliff side lead the way down. Careful, don’t catch yourself (or clothing) on the chipped, gouged rock wall. The sharp edges were grasping, waiting to startle someone. Once at the bottom, on the beach I glanced back up. And it turns out the top is a ways up, a dramatic finish of cliff against the open blue sky.

The beach at Gibson's Steps

After a meandering stroll on the beach we charged back up the steps, which aren’t made for two-way traffic by the way. No worries though the camera didn’t get scratched. Still, what a view.

The arrival of several tour buses loaded with people prompted us to find our car and continue on to the last stops on the Great Ocean Road. The cacophony of multiple languages bombarded our ears and faded away as they too descended Gibson’s Steps.

A slight jog down the road and we stopped to see the 12 Apostles. Only a few remain now while the rest succumbed and now rest beneath the waves; time, the sea salt air and waves having worn them down. After hearing hubs talk about the sights, seeing it on Google (or postcards) doesn’t do the vista, or personal impact, justice. The feel of light, stinging wisps on the face from the sea salt in the air or the bass thumping of the waves trying to match your heartbeat.

The parking lot for this stop was quite a ways away from the actual trail and viewing decks. A wide, gently sloping paved trail led us under the highway via a tunnel (less pedestrian accidents that way I suppose) and to the gravel trails. Some people were hoofing it, really cruising down the trail to see the apostles. Others, as we found out, traveled at a snail’s pace in the arctic in molasses. Yes, they really were that slow.

Thankfully the majority of tourists were Asian and slight of stature. So we could see the view despite the crowds thronging along the trails and viewing decks. What a picture.

The remaining few of the 12 Apostles

 We played the tourist role to the hilt and stopped at every point or sight that had signage. Some were ‘meh’ or just interesting. The tide being out meant, apparently, some stops were less interesting. Our last stop was the Bay of Martyrs. At this point the sun was beginning to start its afternoon descent, the day had warmed up considerable and the strong winds had worked the waves up. 

The Bay of Martyrs

A haze had crept in over the various rocks standing strong up from the ocean in the bay. Trying to take a decent photo was  a challenge with the sun staring right back at you through the haze. It would have been better to stop in the morning light to view the bay at its best. Such was our route though that it was our last stop.

London Bridge... that has fallen

What a tour though. The Great Ocean Road was a pleasant drive with fantastic views. It’s the worth the travel time to get there.

May your week start off warm, cozy and with a cuppa coffee or tea. Despite those blustery winds and snow.