Manhattan Feet

 July 23^rd.

Remember the day we walked from Battery Park, though Greewich Village, through the Financial District and the WTC site, a quick visit to the UN building then split - Matthew and I went to the Witney, Mum, Sarah and Laura to Bloomingdales......do you recall what our feet felt like.. You've got it, it stopped raining - with one day left before flying to Queensland, we had to DO Sydney in a day

So, this morning we went to Bondi Beach, big surf, big surfers, a big boomarang shaped bay with breakers rolling in. We found a great restaurant at the north end of the beach serving italian inspired food - beautifully cooked and presented - the atmosphere was really lively and buzzy playing a nice mix of late 50's beebop - very cool!

Coming to earth with a bump, we caught to bus into the city centre through the eastern suburbs. Sydney is odd. On the one hand it is a recognisably Victorian/Edwardian City - think Manchester or Liverpool. Paddington could be Withington - but the Victorian archetype has been transformed - partly simply being translated to another hemisphere, but mainly by being changed by outdoor culture. Even in mid-winter people are sitting outdoors in cafe's - I've never seen such commitment to cafe culture.

The other transformational factor is affluence. The CBD is packed full of landmark tower blocks - shimmering glass above the shimmering harbour - that's where the Manchester analogy breaks down.

Next, we caught the ferry across to the North Shore, walked back across the Harbour Bridge (built by Australians, forged in Middlesborough!) - the sun came out, yachts and ferries crossing the harbour - an amazing sight.

By the time we walked through Central Quay to the Opera House it was evening, and as we walked the couple of miles back our hotel in Kings Cross the lights of Sydney's skyscrapers lit up the horizon through silhouetted eucalyptus and palm trees. A day to remember.

Up early tomorrow - to fly to Cairns

Hope you are both ok.

We'll stay in touch - but I'm not sure how the internet will work in the next place.

big hugs

Dad

xxx