As is the case with all travelers, I have a different place to lay my head tonight. I've now taken up residence for two nights at Base Backpackers in the CBD of Sydney. That's the Central Business District. I have a room for four - all girls - and while two of them checked out early, I met Jeanne from Switzerland and she and I will be going around today with Charlotte to sight see.
I was really looking forward to last night. A family friend, Tom Tebbutt, from T.O. who writes about tennis, was in town for one night before heading to Brisbane to cover a tournament. Tom and I had a plan to meet at the Sheraton Four Points at 5:30pm last night, and it went off without a hitch. Except for the moment that I stepped outside the skies opened and I was caught in a downpour. I ran from underpass to underpass, getting soaked and laughed at by passing motorists and lucky umbrella-possessing pedestrians. It gushed down rain for 20 minutes and had I only waited at the hostel, I could have walked to meet Tom and missed the downpour. Instead, I didn't want him to think I was standing him up.
I met Tom and we went to his room so I could towel-dry and use the hair dryer. It was great to see an old friend. I'd been a bit lonely since arriving and a familiar face was just what I needed. Tom escorted me to a bar and we each had a pint sitting out on the street. The sun was coming out just in time for our walk down to the 'Rocks', a harbour area of Sydney. Tom had the whole event planned and I wasn't about to question it.
We had a great 'date', Manly beach for beer and pizza was our ultimate destination but Tom and I wandered around Circular Quay for the next ferry. It's gorgeous down there! The Sydney Harbour is amazing and really a natural phenomenon. I saw the Sydney Opera house and the Harbour bridge - really incredible! When we finally boarded the ferry Tom and I headed up to the bow of the boat to get the best view.
It was a good 30 minute ride and when we arrived, we headed for the beach to walk along the sand and dip our feet in the ocean. It was the first time I'd been to the ocean on the trip. We got a pizza and beer right on the beach and then I treated Tom to the best ice cream at Movenpick - Tiramisu flavour. It was the least I could do as Tom was kind enough to treat me to everything else for the dinner.
The ferry back was amazing. The sights are gorgeous and it was breathtaking to see how the harbour opens up to the Pacific. A bright orange moon was rising on the ocean horizon and it was so bright it looked like the sun reflecting off the water. It was cool to think about how that moon was the same one shining down on Canada - did anyone see it, too?
I made it back to the hostel and had the best sleep yet - 9.5 hours! Today will be another day of Sydney sight-seeing, and then I rendez-vous with Dane, a friend from WLU. He's picking me up tomorrow afternoon and we head back to his house in Bronte beach, near Bondi. Then, I can't wait to hang out at his place, on the beach, and relax and take a break from sightseeing.
Til then, I wish all you guys back home a happy return to work and school!!!! I guess I'm not too jealous about that.
