Back to the big city: Sydney

We made it to Sydney just in time for the 4 o'clock rush hour, but luckily it was Sunday and the roads were not bad.  They were kind of crazy though after driving easy going coastal roads for the last week, but we navigated tunnels and bridges decently well, only getting in one screaming argument when we got turned around and could not find a road to turn right on ANYWHERE!  But we made it to the St. Marks Lodge, an old converted house turned into boutique hotel, in the Southeastern area of Sydney near Coogee Beach, which we had a small view of from our window.  We only had a short time in Sydney so we decided to pick up Opal cards at the nearby quick-e-mart so we could ride the public bus downtown to the harbor.  All Australian cities have their own cards for public transport which you load with money to cover your fares, and visitors can't just buy a single fare, so it is a bit annoying if you are only there for a short while as there are $10 minimums.  BUT it beats driving the busy roads if you are sick of being behind the wheel!  And afterwards, you can give your cards, each still with $7.50 in fares on them, to nice old ladies sitting at bus stops, and make their day!

Map of Sydney with the harbor being the focal point and coastal beaches being an AWESOME urban feature!  We stayed a little southeast of the large park near Surry Hills on the map and Bondi Beach is the large sand crescent slightly northeast of there.

Small but comfy room at the St. Marks Lodge.

Ocean views, urban hotel.

We grabbed the bus and rode it all the way downtown to Circular Quay, the busy hub on the southside of the harbor where there are several wharfs to grab ferries to points all over Sydney.  This was also home of the world famous Sydney Opera House, and finally seeing this kind of officially officialized my Australian trip.  It is truly an icon.  We walked around an area called The Rocks, which I believe was one of the original built-up areas of the city and it is preserved and old and cool.  We found a pub for dinner and they had just revamped their menu to feature American food!  So nachos and chicken wings it was for dinner!  Plus a couple pints of REALLY good local beers.  A porter for me and the best IPA either of us had in Australia for Kara.  Sydney seemed to have quite a bit more American influence than Melbourne or other places I had been, which was kind of interesting.  I even saw a Starbucks, which I had not yet my entire trip.

Sydney Harbour Bridge and carnival on northern side.  This is the one they always show with fireworks shooting off of it for the first big New Year's Day celebration.

Sydney Opera House at night.

In the morning, we got up early and headed for Bondi Beach for a sunrise beach/cliff walk.  This area is just GORGEOUS, with cliffs on the sea, and awesome trails all along them, beaches, houses, views, and waves.  Amazing place that had us both wondering why everyone in the world doesn't want to live there!  After checking out, we headed downtown again to cross over the harbor bridge and view it all from a park on the northern side before heading out of town to get down the road towards Melbourne.

Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club saltwater pool at Bondi Beach; built into the rocks with fresh infusions from breaking waves.  One of the coolest things I have ever seen!

Awesome erosional rock features along the cliffs at Bondi.

Waves, rocks, houses.

Surfers at dawn.

Groundwater seep near the beach.

The rock scrambler gets down low.

Sunrise waves crashing.

See the troll?  We picked it's nose clean.

More groundwater falling.

The lineup was packed at Bondi with a nice steady 6 foot face.

Beachside skate park where an 8 year old was tearing it up on his skateboard and making me feel OLD.

Sydney harbour, blue skies.

FIGARO!