Friday was the tourist day, starting off with breakfast pancakes at Bondi Beach. After spending a few hours sunbathing and people watching (and by people I of course mean hot surfers and life guards) we headed back into the city. Not wanting to waste holiday time we didnt bother getting changed and headed to Circular Quay still in our beach gear. The usual tourist pictures of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge were then captured in numerous poses and positions before we felt the calling of alcohol once again. I must say I felt a little under-dressed sat in the Opera Bar in beachwear, but after a few glasses of wine I just didnt really care.
It was around 5pm that we both had the amazing idea of heading back to the hotel but stopping at every bar we passed along the way and having a different drink. We had a cider at an italian bar at the Rocks and then a beer at an irish bar on some random side street. At this place we also managed to steal a couple of santa hats because a group having their christmas party had left them behind. It only seemed appropriate to continue the bar crawl sporting said hats.
I would try and relay the route to you, but surprisingly it all goes a bit fuzzy after the irish bar.... I do remember that we didnt want to waste money on dinner so we had our evening meal in mcdonalds at which point I became increasingly concerned that I wasnt wearing underwear so after a quick detour back to the room to get changed we headed back out into the city. We spent a fair chunk of the evening in a student bar called Star Bar. It was happy hour so as the drinks were cheaper, we bought two each time instead of two...logical. I have vague memories of getting tequila shots bought for us by a random guy from which we ran away and being asked to drink a glass of water at the bar before they would serve me another shot. Aussie's are strict on that kinda stuff!! We eventuallly made it back to the hotel with my sister wearing my shoes and me in bare feet (don't even ask) and collapsed into bed. I was especially impressed that even whilst drunk I had enough self-control not to eat the gingerbread house that was on display in reception no matter how amazing it smelt everytime I walked past. An achivement worth recognition, don't you think ;-)
So we awoke on Saturday morning and I had the worst hangover I have ever had! We had prepaid to go to Sydney Tower where there is a revolving restaurant that overlooks all the city. The food was absolutely gorgeous and I had been looking forward to going for ages. However, my body decided to punish me and so I spent the entire time trying to keep down what little food I had managed to eat...very sad times. I couldnt manage doing anything strenuous that afternoon so we hopped on the ferry to Manly and sat at the beach for a while doing yet more people watching and just letting the world pass by. I started to feel human again by late afternoon so we headed back to the city and spent some more time in Darling Harbour. We drank some gorgeous cocktails in Cohi bar before meeting up with some friends for dinner. There was also and amazing fireworks display around 9pm as the countdown to christmas had begun!
After and alcohol-free detox day I was ready on Sunday to do some more exploring. We met a family friend from home for brekkie and he showed us around his part of the city. I especially enjoyed the visit to the macaroon shop and the gingerbread macaroons..yuuuuuummmy! More tourist times followed with a walk around the botanical gardens. Gorgeous settings but sadly the colony of fruit bats that I really wanted to see had been moved on so I had to make do with some funky-looking birds instead. Not quite as David Attenborough worthy, but cute nonetheless. It was walking back to the hotel that I saw a pretty awesome sight. We heard music behind us so we turned around and saw an old guy dressed in what can only be described as the clothes oxfam rejects. He was riding on a mobility scooter to which he had fixed a speaker and amp to the back and a massive elvis ornament to the front. He then was just riding around the city blaring out elvis music as he went. Very bizarre.
Monday was our last day and as the weather was terrible we headed to the aquariam. It has to be one of the best I have ever visited and got to check another thing off my wishlist: seeing a duck-billed platypus!! It was then time to head to the airport. Ok, so we were four hourse early but Katy had won quantas platinum membership for the year, so as were allowed into the quantas club lounge it only seemed appropriate to make as much use of the free food an alcohol as we possibly could. My highlight would have to be the chocolate orange bread and butter pudding. Yummy, yum, yum, get in my tum!
And so the flight home....and shall I just make you aware that we got a business class upgrade for the first time. Woohoo! Pretty awesome birthday pressie from my amazing travel consultant of a sister. Strawberry juice on take-off, followed by pre-dinner wine, a roasted duck salad and chocolate torte for dinner and yet more wine. Not bad for an hour and a half flight. Lets just say, I don't do economy anymore......
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