069 – Sydney, Australia – Rain or Shine

We shed a small tear as we packed up our bags to leave Perth and our cozy suburban oasis. Partly, because it meant the end to thrice daily skinny dips, and partly due to the bag of onions that I had to cram into our bags after we failed to finish them off. Regardless, we arrived in Sydney unmolested by the food-sniffing quarantine hounds.

  

  Much to our surprise, it was Australia Day! Who knew? Even better,  we fortuitously settled in about 45 minutes before the big fireworks show in Darling Harbour, which just happened to be 200 metres from our hotel (hmmm…perhaps THAT explains the room rates…ouch)!

So Taz got suited up for the occasion,

 (He looked so good,  Ciel had to get in on the action.)

And off we went.

The anticipation was almost too much to bear.

But the 30 minute show was well worth the wait.

(Just a sample)

Mesmerizing.

With baby cot rental an exhorbitant $20/night, I was all set to have Taz bunk in a suitcase for a few days. And, while he was totally on board…

…Britt was not. (So close!)

Sunday we reunited with our friends Jen and Dom (Ref. Blog #014) along with their 13-month-old daughter, Sydney Rose.  Unfortunately, the remnants of a Queensland cyclone rolled into town squashing our plans for a leisurely stroll and making us feel like we’d arrived in Vancouver a month early.

“Uh, yeah, we are not going back out there.”

So we did the next best thing. Picked up a case of beer, ordered in pizza and spent the afternoon and night playing cards and trashing our hotel room like high school kids.

 Totally rowdy.

“Can someone get this guy a beer?”

"No, I love YOU, man."

We braved the rain the following morning to recuperate with some killer dim sum.

The sesame balls were clearly a fan favourite.

The weather fined up enough later in the week for Taz to stretch his legs at the playground,

And for us get out of the city on a bus tour to the Blue Mountains.

Conveniently stopping at another wildlife park,

(Greater Bilby)

(Echidnas)

Where the docile Kookaburra

Was in sharp contrast to the aggressive, rapid-fire, kangaroo-food-snatching emus.

Leaving Ciel to console the distraught ‘roos over their lost lunch.

“Just give us a minute here, please?”

Meanwhile, Britt continued her exposure therapy,

With Taz’s helpful guidance.

A snack and a cool bevvie later,

And we arrived at the Blue Mountains and the famed Three Sisters.

Where we learned that the koalas are WAY bigger in the mountains.

Next we headed to Scenic World for a ride on the Scenic Skyway,

(Katoomba Falls)

A descent on the Scenic Cableway to the Jamison Valley,

 And a stroll along the Scenic Walkway.

It was all very…scenic.

Fed up with the bus, Taz and Ciel opted for alternative transportation

To tiny Leura,

 For a rousing meander through the shops.

The final leg was a short ferry ride down the Parramatta River,

To Sydney Harbour.

(Harbour Bridge)

Before departing the Terra Australis for good, Ciel and her peeps,

Made sure we swung by Circular Quay,

(Museum of Contemporary Art)

So she could hone her budding photography skills.

She’s getting to be a real pro.

Hawai'i here we come.