Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else. In such a way do the days pass.
Shortly after getting back from New Zealand I realised I had five days off work in a row - thanks to an "Easter Tuesday" university holiday, so I'd better make use of it. I was first thinking of going over to Perth, but due to the late timing it wasn't really practical with the costs and times of available flights for the Easter weekend - who would have thought? So, the backup plan was Sydney since there are flights going back and forth all the time, plus I haven't been to Sydney for somewhere between fifteen and twenty years. So that was it then, fly out on Good Friday (the most boring day of the year) and come back on Tuesday.
Not having taken a domestic flight for years as well, I got to the airport a bit too early and of course, a thirty minute delay. I think that's at least four flights in a row out of Melbourne that have been delayed - it's like they've only got one runway or something. Thanks to the real and actually built airport train I had no trouble getting into Sydney and walking over to Surry Hills (like Surrey Hills only slightly better, besides the spelling) to check in at the hotel. I was told I got a super lucky free upgrade bonus to a room with a balcony! which I guess would have good been good if:
- The balcony had a view of something good
- The people checking in after me didn't get told the exact same thing
It was already 4pm so I didn't have much time left in the day, so I started exploring to find out what was close by and ended up in Darlinghurst, then bypassed King's Cross to get back to the CBD. Sadly I had developed a blister from running just one day before my holiday - what are the odds - so walking was still a bit painful. Anyway, soon I was at The Domain which is best described as a big patch of grass - which would be good if you wanted to go for a run, which at this stage I definitely did not.
I passed the Art Gallery Of NSW and the Botanical Gardens on the way down Mrs Macquarie's Road. At the end of the road, coincidentally, is Mrs Macquarie's Chair, whatever the hell a chair is. From this "chair" there is a good view of the harbour, the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge along with a tourist or two. It was starting to get dark already - bring back daylight savings already - so I took a shortcut along the seawall within the Botanical Gardens to get to the Opera House. Probably because I see it all the time on television, but the Opera House wasn't particularly great. I walked around it as much as was accessible, and got a closer look at the Sydney Harbour Bridge which was a lot more impressive. If only Melbourne had a big bridge (and better weather) then we'd be all set.
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| Art Gallery Of NSW. |
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| An old favourite. |
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| Me at the harbour. |
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| The rest of Sydney. |
I ended up at Circular Quay but didn't realise the train station was right there and instead walked back to Darlinghurst for dinner. I found a place called Beach Burrito Company which might have been ok, but looked a bit deserted so kept searching. Next up I came across The Burger Joint which had not just a big selection of burgers but nachos too! They took forever to cook the nachos, and they weren't that good either - too much bean and chili (the correct recipe for nachos is: 1. chips 2. cheese 3. more cheese). The lesson here is, don't order nachos from a burger shop.
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| Woolloomooloolworths. |
First impression of the hotel:
- $10 internet (actually cheap by Australian standards) but I will try to survive four days without it!
- Fox Sports channels (but never any ESPN or Fox Footy)
- Location is alright
- Stupid reversable door sign that either falls off or changes sides when you close the door
- The noise from the hallways is a bit loud
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