And here I am. Its just after 5 in the afternoon here, already I have done quite a bit. It turns out that the hotel allows 3 free hours of internet per day, so getting these posts up shouldn't be a problem. However, the time is consecutive, you can't log off and then back on...once the clock starts ticking....that's it.
Anyway.....after a miserably long flight sequence (8 hour layover in Chicago...that was pretty tedious), and a 15 hour flight from LAX (I slept for a good portion of that though) I landed around 0830 local time in a very sunny Sydney. I had to wait around in the crowded arrivals terminal, as my travel partners for this one (Hayley and here two friends, Justine and Bianca), didn't come until a bit later. At around 1030 the 3 of them came parading through the exit, and we were on our way.
We opted for a taxi, since the train to downtown was AUS 16.50 per person for one way, splitting a taxi four ways would have been cheaper. Our driver, a Lebanese dude, didn't have much to say, but got us to our hotel in an area known as The Rocks, as stone's throw (rock throw?) from Sydney's famous harbor. Kudos to Hayley for picking the sweet digs. Our room wasn't ready yet, but they allowed us to shower up in their pool area (that felt good, I gotta say). After freshening up, we sent out for our first taste of Australia's largest city.
We first stepped onto Argyle Street, a small side street off on the one we are staying on (Harrington) that was lined with a number of crafts-sellers out in the nice weather (Sydney has been hit by constant rain for someting like the past 5 days...so is the word). After a quick peruse, we came to the walkway down to the harbor, but the girls cried hunger, so we grabbed a pizza at basically the first place we came to (serious sticker shock.....I don't even want to recollect how much that cost.....). So...after giving quick thought to how poverty is going to suit me after this trip (Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia, and one of the most expensive in the world) we made our way down to Circular Quay, a busy part of the harbor that acts as a starting/docking point for the popular ferries. It was packed with people, mainly tourists, out in the sun, and we caught our first glimpse of the oh-so-famous Sydney Opera House on the other side of the harbor. Unfortunately, a massive cruise liner kind of made decent photo-ops a bit of an issue. Well, it didn't matter, the girls quickly decided that, since the weather was great, today we were gonna do our cruise!
So, without wasting any time, we were in line and getting tickets for a ferry to Manly, a suburb in northern Sydney that is a popular beach town. We didn't care so much about the destination, but were more in it for the ride. Because of the weather, it was incredibly pleasant, with a light breeze coming of the water (we sat outside on the ship, squeezed onto benches). We were afforded some decent views of the outer reaches of the city, which included large homes built onto the hills along the shore. Unfortunately we couldn't sit on the side that passed the Opera House, but, what can you do?
After about a half-hour, we made it to Manly. We didn't spend to long there, just strolled along the main avenue, lined with shops, which eventually ended at the beach. We then quickly took in a couple of side streets with more arts and crafts sellers, and then decided to head back.
Unfortunately on the way back the weather turned....and the sky blackened. We we forced inside, and pretty soon it began to rain, not very hard, but any rain isn't very pleasant. I wasn't going to be stopped though, and as we passed by the Opera House I snapped away. Some of the pictures you can see down below, along with a few others I have selected.
After coming to our wharf, we had to dash through the rain and back to our hotel, where we are planning our next move (looks like its gonna be food). With that, I will sign off. Not sure if I will get back on today, but if anything else happens of note tonight, look for it in the next post.
Photos, in order: Your correspondent, Bianca, and Justine waiting to board the ferry; Your dashing correspondent in front of the Sydney Opera House, taken from ferry; buildings lining Circular Quay; Your Correspondent looking like something of an idiot aboard the ferry; the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge; street vendors in Manly; the Opera House, again; my lovely sister, aboard the ferry.
Cheers.
Anyway.....after a miserably long flight sequence (8 hour layover in Chicago...that was pretty tedious), and a 15 hour flight from LAX (I slept for a good portion of that though) I landed around 0830 local time in a very sunny Sydney. I had to wait around in the crowded arrivals terminal, as my travel partners for this one (Hayley and here two friends, Justine and Bianca), didn't come until a bit later. At around 1030 the 3 of them came parading through the exit, and we were on our way.
We opted for a taxi, since the train to downtown was AUS 16.50 per person for one way, splitting a taxi four ways would have been cheaper. Our driver, a Lebanese dude, didn't have much to say, but got us to our hotel in an area known as The Rocks, as stone's throw (rock throw?) from Sydney's famous harbor. Kudos to Hayley for picking the sweet digs. Our room wasn't ready yet, but they allowed us to shower up in their pool area (that felt good, I gotta say). After freshening up, we sent out for our first taste of Australia's largest city.
We first stepped onto Argyle Street, a small side street off on the one we are staying on (Harrington) that was lined with a number of crafts-sellers out in the nice weather (Sydney has been hit by constant rain for someting like the past 5 days...so is the word). After a quick peruse, we came to the walkway down to the harbor, but the girls cried hunger, so we grabbed a pizza at basically the first place we came to (serious sticker shock.....I don't even want to recollect how much that cost.....). So...after giving quick thought to how poverty is going to suit me after this trip (Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia, and one of the most expensive in the world) we made our way down to Circular Quay, a busy part of the harbor that acts as a starting/docking point for the popular ferries. It was packed with people, mainly tourists, out in the sun, and we caught our first glimpse of the oh-so-famous Sydney Opera House on the other side of the harbor. Unfortunately, a massive cruise liner kind of made decent photo-ops a bit of an issue. Well, it didn't matter, the girls quickly decided that, since the weather was great, today we were gonna do our cruise!
So, without wasting any time, we were in line and getting tickets for a ferry to Manly, a suburb in northern Sydney that is a popular beach town. We didn't care so much about the destination, but were more in it for the ride. Because of the weather, it was incredibly pleasant, with a light breeze coming of the water (we sat outside on the ship, squeezed onto benches). We were afforded some decent views of the outer reaches of the city, which included large homes built onto the hills along the shore. Unfortunately we couldn't sit on the side that passed the Opera House, but, what can you do?
After about a half-hour, we made it to Manly. We didn't spend to long there, just strolled along the main avenue, lined with shops, which eventually ended at the beach. We then quickly took in a couple of side streets with more arts and crafts sellers, and then decided to head back.
Unfortunately on the way back the weather turned....and the sky blackened. We we forced inside, and pretty soon it began to rain, not very hard, but any rain isn't very pleasant. I wasn't going to be stopped though, and as we passed by the Opera House I snapped away. Some of the pictures you can see down below, along with a few others I have selected.
After coming to our wharf, we had to dash through the rain and back to our hotel, where we are planning our next move (looks like its gonna be food). With that, I will sign off. Not sure if I will get back on today, but if anything else happens of note tonight, look for it in the next post.
Photos, in order: Your correspondent, Bianca, and Justine waiting to board the ferry; Your dashing correspondent in front of the Sydney Opera House, taken from ferry; buildings lining Circular Quay; Your Correspondent looking like something of an idiot aboard the ferry; the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge; street vendors in Manly; the Opera House, again; my lovely sister, aboard the ferry.
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