Australia 2012 Kevin Bell
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The Medina apartment in Sydney is very nice, very large lounge with 2 double settees, good kitchen area etc., very comfortable , city centre and we have just been out for some provisions and opened a bottle of wine so the holiday is back on track!

Mon 13 th Feb

We have given up with the Tep, it doesn't even work in central Sydney, even though it says receiving 3G, so have bought a week's use of the internet for $115 (got immune to silly prices over here). Full, unlimited, internet access, for both of us at the same time - luxury!

Started the day with a swim in the warm outdoor lap pool and then made breakfast - first one we've had that hasn't been a hotel one, on a plane or in an airport - lovely relaxing start to the day.

The wheelie measuring thing that we ordered for Ste for Christmas has still not arrived so I have been in touch with Scalex - they will courier another from America if we pay for courier - still cheaper than having the money back and ordering one in Aus!

Caught the bus down to Circular Quay - had to be done - ticked the Opera House and Harbour Bridge boxes. Had lunch then caught a ferry round to Darling Harbour. We were going to catch the monorail round to nearer home but our 'My Tickets' that are supposed cover 'all' modes of transport cover all except the monorail, so we walked back up through a very busy city buying in some booze from a 'Bottle Shop' on the way. Don't know whether its some legal requirement but you can't buy booze in convenience stores and even in a supermarket, it has to be paid for at a separate till.

Tues 14th Feb

Started the day with a swim before breakfast again then off to the station, which is just behind the apartments - although we don't hear any noise nor from the street, the windows are so well double glazed.
Caught the train down to the Botanic Gardens and walked through these to Mrs Macquarie's Point to see the Queen Mary II which is in Sydney for the day and won't fit in the harbour! It is enormous.
Walked back through the gardens and were asked more than once if we were off the QM II - must have looked like tourists! We visted the Justice and Police museum because the guidebook said that it had macabre relics of notorious crimes. It was a bit hyped - although K did a get a picture of one of Ned Kelly's guns.
Walked back to Central Quay. There was a large P&O cruise ship in dock but it would be tiny next to the QMII! Then caught the ferry round to Darling Harbour for a late lunch overlooking a replica of Captain Cook's ship, Endeavour, a submarine and a destryoyer outside the Maritime Museum, before catching the light railway back home.

Wed 15th Feb

K spotted last night that the Australian Open Surf Championships are on at Manly Beach at the moment so swim and breakfast then train and ferry to Manly. It's a nice resort area of Sydney with a long beach and we walked down the water's edge to sit on the stands to watch the competition. It was very hot in the sun and we didn't really understand the scoring, although the surfing was impressive, so we wandered back down the esplanade for a drink. Slowly made our way back to the ferry.

Back in central Sydney, I went to Paddy's Market and K went to explore the bridge, The Rocks and the Observatory before looking closely at the ships outside the Maritime museum and finding that the replica Endeavour isn't one - it is currently on tour! (Apparently it was some other replica sailing ship we were looking at yesterday - No Worries!). Paddy's Market had a large fruit and veg section - really fresh looking produce - so bought some fruit and couldn't believe how cheap it was, especially for Australia!

Out to China Town for dinner - K not impressed by the Chinese tea served as we arrived, but he did concede it was better than Bush Billy tea!

Thurs 16th Feb

Sorted out paying for couurier for Ste's wheelie thing -47.50 USD paid by Paypal, so hopefully it will arrive in next couple of weeks. U

Swim and breakfast then off to tick another box - Bondi Beach. Busy beach with surfing in one area and people, including K, jumping the waves in another. Bondi town seems to be quite a big one but I think I preferred Manly.

Late lunch in Crystal Palace Hotel - a bar, a bistro, a bottle shop, a betting shop - lots of screens showing different races, results etc. - a gambling bar - in the back- and backpacker's hostel - and all at very reasonable price - both ate for $20!

Fri 17th Feb

A relaxing day - had swim and then had breakfast in cafe next to hotel, eggs benedict - its as well we didn't find this earlier! Then train to St James and walk down to Botanic Gardens - ticked the last Sydney box on the way, we missed it last time - stroked the nose of 'Il Porcellino', statue of a wild boar outside the hospital that brings good fortune if you stroke its snout!

Spent a few hours in the gardens relaxing, reading and watching the world go past before coming back to Central for drinks at the Crystal Palace. Packed ready for moving tomorrow then dinner at our local, Crystal Palace again!