Weather: Hot and Sunny!
I woke up a little early this morning, but managed to go back to sleep until 9:00! This jet-lag hasn’t affected me too much. We got dressed for summer and headed down to Bills (a nice little breakfast place) and ordered ricotta pancakes! They were very fluffy and rich … yummmm … pancakes. We also ordered creamy scrambled eggs with cheese and tomato. It took us 40 minutes to get seated because there were so many people there.
After that, we tried to walk off the pancakes by going to the harbor by foot! We made it and saw where Nemo was found… Sydney Harbor!
We walked up the pylon lookout and saw another angle of the whole harbor.
I started feeling adventurous and tried to climb the bridge (just kidding).
This year for New Year’s, they added a New Years ball (8 tons) to the fireworks display. We saw this close-up when we walked across Sydney Harbor Bridge. Or rather … we walked half-way across and then headed back to save time. Plus, our legs didn’t know what to expect. One day we barely move on a plane for 28 hours, and the next, we’re walking miles and miles everywhere we go!
While walking around the city, we found a Christmas tree, which is odd to us because if feels like Summer.
We also walked through Hyde Park and saw beautiful trees and fountains.
We walked back to our hotel to change for our New Years Eve dinner cruise on the harbor! On the way back, at 4 PM, the harbor area was packed!
Some were a little crazier than others, too.
We got changed and headed to the wharf where our boat was to pick us up. Well, we were nervous because it was 7:45 and the boat was nowhere to be seen! (Departure was at 8:00). Luckily, the boat was just running a little late, so we got on without a hitch.
The cruise was great! It was a little cramped and we were sitting across from two strange, older men from the Netherlands, but it was fun just the same. We drank Australian wine, beer, Champaign and there was a dance floor and DJ set up on the first floor.
The boat was in the parade of lit ships, so we were in the best area (the “fireworks exclusion zone”) going back and forth under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and by the Opera House.
The 9:00 fireworks started and were not that impressive. They lasted 8 minutes and were not very loud or extravagant. But the 12:00 fireworks were massive! Fireworks were shooting out of the top of the bridge! And they were synchronized all up and down the harbor!
While we were in-between fireworks, though, we met up with two very nice Australian natives, Craig and Shimi! Craig was telling us all about the local history and traditions of Australia and he even witnessed my first true” Australian beer experience (“Victoria Bitter”) and bought me a Jack Daniels. They were a very nice couple and the cruise was that much more enjoyable with them being there. We were so tired by the time the boat was returning to the wharf that I was ready fall over … or perhaps that was all the alcohol … :)We settled back in our room at 2:00 AM, and we crashed for the night. Tomorrow … we relax! :)
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