Goodbye to Australia

Today is an optional activity, and John has offered to show us his hometown.  My feet and knees have recovered sufficiently so let’s go walking again!


As we head toward Hyde Park, John tells us about the gay pride marches in the 1970’s protesting the inequality of same sex relationships in Australia.  The second year of the protests, marchers were arrested and beaten.  Yearly pride parades continued and the government finally changed legislation.  Each year now a giant “condom” covers a local obelisk which is really a sewer vent for an entire week!


Hyde Park, named after the one in London,  is a beautiful oasis of trees planted in 1870, deep green ivy, ferns, and other greenery.  Cool pathways wander through the park with inviting benches, but we are too busy to sit.  The impressive ANZAC Memorial rises above a reflection pool, and the ceiling is covered with gold stars representing Aussie and New Zealander soldiers killed in WWI.  A beautiful fountain by a French designer and based on Greek mythology sprays streams of water.


A huge cathedral, Saint Mary’s, is also near the park while the skyline of downtown Sydney is in the background.  Much smaller than Central Park in New York City, it is still a lovely green space with people and couples strolling, parents pushing baby buggies, dog walkers, or even the lucky ones just sitting on benches.


We catch a tram to Circular Quay to board a fast ferry across the harbor to Manly.  Evidently when Captain Cook first discovered Australia and encountered the aborigines with shots fired and spears throw ( previously reported as a subsequent captain…sorry!), he recorded that the natives were “manly”.


The harbor is HUGE, miles in opposite directions, and John points out sights along the way.  It is interesting to see Sydney from the water instead of just land.  Climbers are on the bridge, and the opera house displays her grandeur.  It is easy to imagine the astronomical prices of real  estate facing the water!


Manly is a quaint coastal village with the harbor on one side and the Tasman Sea leading to the Pacific Ocean on the other.  Surfers are riding waves, and at the opposite end of the sandy beach, children play in the water under lifeguard supervision.  Lunch is in a beachfront restaurant, and I order the mini lobster rolls.  I asked if there was much mayonnaise, but what I should have asked if there was much meat!  The threesome of small brioche buns were split with a maybe tablespoon of shredded meat and mayo mixture on each roll.  The lobster was tasteless, but the bread was good…but expensive!


We walk and stop in some of the local shops, but I don’t purchase anything.  Later, I will wish I bought more souvenirs in Australia.  I have presents for the grandchildren, but maybe I’m meant to return to this island country I’ve fallen in love with to buy those remembrances…or just to create more memories.


We get gelato at Anita’s…my mother’s name…and the passion fruit is the best ever!  Not only is it sweet and sumptuous, but the black seeds add an extra crunch!  I could eat this every day, but I might have to walk more than 6 miles!


We ferry back to Sydney and have a quick thirty minute respite before heading off for our dinner cruise.  Our final night in Australia with unlimited drinks, and I thoroughly enjoy two lemon limes and bitters!  


I try to capture photos of the bridge and opera house from the bow of the boat.  I love the shape of the opera house and how it seems to rise organically from the water.  What a masterpiece!


Only 6.1 miles walked today, and after the dinner cruise, it is sorting and packing to leave Sydney and Australia in the morning.  I’ve heard such wonderful things about New Zealand, but I am flying high on my Aussie experiences!  New Zealand has a very high pinnacle to reach to equal or surpass my time in Australia.  Tomorrow we fly to Christchurch to start our Kiwi adventure!


Our final Aussie slang lesson….


“Put a snag on the barbie”….put a sausage on the grill!

“Mozzie”….mosquito!

“Servo”…service station!

“Macca’s”…McDonald’s!

“Sunnies”…sunglasses!

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