Sidney – Day 4

Trip Day 22

February 28, 2010

The last day of February. How about that? Y'all in the states have one more to go, but it'll be March soon.

I've done something to my foot. I started hurting yesterday and isn't any better today. Truly cramped my walking plans, but I made the best of it. Managed to check off more items on Ted's list, but not all of them. Didn't get a return trip to Bondi in, for one. I did, however walk and window shop along Oxford Street in Paddington and went to see 'Hurt Locker' at the Verona movie theater. Whatamovie! I wasn't planning on spending two hours+ sitting in a theater, but it kept me off my foot and made sense. I'm really glad to have seen it.

Grabbed a large 'flat white' and then took a taxi down to Circular Quays, the central harbor location that has both the train station and the ferries. Only had to wait a half hour for one to Rose Bay. This trio wsa good enough to provide some entertainment. The weather wasn't perfect, but it was certainly nice enough to sit up top and admire the harbor on a summer Sunday afternoon. The boat was full both ways.

Rose Bay was pretty, and Ted's list suggested lunch at Catalina. That's the ferry at the left of the frame. I was a little underdressed, but it didn't seem to matter (does anything?) and I had a beer and some excellent calamari while I waited for the next ferry to take me first to Watson's Bay and then back to the city. There was a good breeze blowing and the sheer volume of sailing vessels was impressive.

Victoria Street, where I'm staying in Poggs Point, is something of a headquarters for backpackers. There are hotels everywhere near here catering to the young, Australia-on-a-budget crowd. Here's a scene just up the block from my hotel.

Then it was back to the city and the beginning of wrapping up Chapter 4. Had a great dinner atMaggie's, a German restaurant overlooking an urban park. It was the all-around best meal I've had on the trip to date.

Catch an 0800 flight to Perth tomorrow for the beginning of Chapter 5.