July 20th
It's true, Sydney International Airport is built on the very estuarial swamp chosen as the first penal colony.
Our arrival coincided, we have just learned from the local TV, with the heaviest rain experienced in July since 1953. As we landed, you could not even see the wingtips of the 747 from the windows, the whole plane was creaking and bumping as we dropped through the storm clouds and as we hit the run-way the under-carriage sent grey sheets of surface water flying up so you could not see a thing.
It's rained on and off since then, but between torrential showers we have managed - a really nice Italian meal overlooking the Harbour Bridge, a walk through the Botanical Gardens up to the Opera House, - what an amazing city, the office blocks of the CBD, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge. the surrounding the harbour, busy with ferries chugging from one suburb to another.
Our hotel is in a converted Victorian townhouse, one step up from a backpacker place really, but friendly and comfortable enough. The area is...interesting...a mixture of 'adult clubs' alternative therapy joints - and chemists - why the chemists?
 |
| Travel essentials |
It's still raining...and forecast to continue more or less until Sunday when we leave. We're planning interior places to visit - the aquarium tomorrow...they're forecasting massive surf in the next couple of days, so whatever the weather we'll go to Bondi Beach to see the Pacific in all its awesomeness.
love to all
Dad, Mum and Laura (the upside down Turpies)
xxxxxxx
