We returned last Wednesday from 5 lovely days in and around Sydney Australia. We flew first class from LAX to Sydney and actually got a good amount of sleep. We stayed close to Circular Quay (pronounced Key) and explored the city by foot and ferry. Our room at the Sydnet Harbor Marriott overlooked the Sydney Opera House and we could walk to the Historic area known as the Rocks and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

We took a ferry to Manly Beach and walk the Manly Scenic Walk, which is about 10 km or 6 miles long. It winds around the bay, up and down cliffs, through bush and beaches. We had our lunch of Subway sandwiches about half way through and enjoyed views of the bay from neat little lookout points. It was tiring but we did it. Ithink it's easier hiking when you're not in the mountains, but I'm a wimp and out of shape.

We took a day trip into the Blue Mountains where there is a blue haze over everything because of all the eucalyptus trees and the oils from their leaves. We went to one of Martin's fond memories from his trip 13 years ago - The Koala Park Sanctuary. We got to pet koalas and feed kangaroos and meet a wombat named Matilda. The kangaroos eat cheerios if you were curious. The bus then took us to a lookout place called, appropriately enough, Scenicworld. There is a cable car ride across a big valley and a scenic railway that takes you part way to the bottom of the valley on a 52 degree angle. It's more like an elevator or lift really.

We were also in Sydney for ANZAC Day, where all the veterans and just about every bagpipe player int he world it seems, gather to march down Geroge Street. It was a day, as MArtin put it, "You get to see the best and worst of Australia." The worst being everyone drunk on their knees by 8PM that evening. Girls crying into cell phones, fourteen people piling into a cab, you name it.

We flew home on Wednesday at about noon and arrived in LAX at about 930AM the same Wednesday. It's amazing flying across the date line.


Scenicworld
Manly Scenic Walkway
Koala Park Sanctuary