Last Days in Australia - November 8 & 9

 November 8 - Left Leura in the Blue Mountains; arrived in Sydney by the airport

    Today we had a leisurely start to the day. We talked with Nick, Christian and Sebastian. Christian has a busy weekend with 3 baseball games and Nick picked him up early from school so that they'd all be rested. We packed up at Leura House and walked down the road to the Leura Cafe, where we ate yesterday. It was so good that we ordered the very same meals.

   

We put our feet into the Tasman Sea on Bondi Beach

We drove the 1 1/2 hours into Sydney and checked in to the Silkari Urban Hotel near the airport where the temperature was in the mid-to-high 80s.

      We decided to venture to Bondi Beach. (pronounced bond - eye). It is an iconic sandy beach famous for consistently waves for surfing. As it was hot and a Saturday, it was crowded, but Mark managed to find a parking spot. (!) We walked down to the beach, took off our shoes and dipped our feet into the Tasman Sea. It has really been the first opportunity to do that because when we've been by the beaches, the weather has not cooperated.

Iconic Bondi Beach

     After the dip, we had some fish and chips across from the beach. And, on the way to the car, we had a summer rain. Loads of people headed for their cars and the traffic got a bit congested.

November 9 

   

We returned our rental car to downtown Sydney without much hassle. 

    Then we walked into ChinaTown which we have come to love. Mark bought a new rain jacket and Barbara bought some opal earrings. 

 

    We then went back to Yang Sang Park, Korean Barbecue where we ate a few weeks ago. It is just so good, and we had a young server who reminded us of Hank - same smile, profile and...born the same month and year. 

   

In the Botanical Garden, remnants of a bygone building

Can't get enough photos of this - this one is from a different angle than the ones from 3 weeks ago

  Next -we took the free tram to Circular Quay which was crowded with people, it being a lovely sunny day. We went to the Botanical Garden overlooking the harbor, strolled and watched people and ferries coming and going.

     Then - back to Circular Quay for some gelato and then the train to the airport terminal and an Uber back to our hotel.

We don't buy many souvenirs, but Mark will have this to remember Australia.

    It was what we call "a Barbara and Mark day" - not much planned, roaming, eating, and spectating.

And, Barbara will have these opal earrings to remember Australia