Forget margaritas, I want my Pancakes on the Rocks!

 Day 6 (Sat Jan 1) - Parramatta, Pancakes on the Rocks

We decided to keep it low key on New Year's Day.  Melissa wasn't feeling well so she and mom stayed at the apartment.  I went with the boys to Parramatta.  Parramatta is a large suburb outside of Sydney.  We took a RiverCat Ferry out there.  The ferry would only take us part way because the River was so low.  We had to wait at the ferry stop and wait for a bus to take us the rest of the way.  It was one of the sketchiest bus rides ever!  We finally made it and the city was a ghost town.  We stopped at a bar for some refreshments before continuing to walk around the city.  We walked around looking at the different sites before deciding to take the train back.  Once we got back to Sydney, we decided to take Sarah up on her recommendation and eat at Pancakes on the Rocks.  It was delicious and the perfect end to the day!

Day 7 (Sun Jan 2) - Rose Bowl, Adam's Last Day

Today was Adam's last day in Sydney.  The boys wanted to make the most of it so they traveled out to the Blue Mountains.  Melissa still wasn't feeling well so us girls decided to stay in Sydney.  I got up early in order to watch the Badgers play in the Rose Bowl.  Luckily we got the channel in Sydney.  Unfortunately the Badgers did not do so well and they lost to TCU.  We just layed around the apartment for the rest of the day and watch some Big Bang Theory.  Mom and I went to Cole's again.  This time it was thunder storming.  It was quite an adventure getting there and back!  After the boys came back we decided to lay low for the rest of the night and get pizza for dinner.  It was sad that Adam would be leaving the next day.

Day 8 (Mon Jan 3) - Shopping, Sydney Tower

Adam was leaving that afternoon so we decided to do some last minute shopping so he could get the souvenirs he still needed.  We went to different malls and sports stores downtown.  Mom and I decided to venture to the Coach store in the QVB building.  The prices were really expensive even more so than in the US.  We did find some Brewers pins in on of the stores which was exciting!  After going back to the apartment and getting Adam to the airport, we decided to go to Darling Harbour and visit the Sydney Tower at night.  It was another nice low key day.

Day 9 (Tues Jan 4) - Opera House, Olympic Park, Wildlife World

Today was our first day without Adam.  We were finally free (just kidding!).  We slept in and Dad got some work done at the office in the morning.  Around noon we met Dad at the Opera House.  We got some take away lunch at a stand in Circular Quay that included one of the many frozen cokes of the trip.  We then headed out to Olympic Park.  I have to admit this was one of the attractions I was looking forward to the most and one of the bigger disappointments.  It was very deserted and there were not a lot of people around.  They still use some of the stadiums for sporting events and concerts but otherwise the area is pretty dead.  We walked around and took pictures and then decided to head back to the city.  We did one of the things left on our tourist pass, Wildlife World.  Unfortunately we got there right before closing so we had to hurry through the exhibits.  We got to see snakes, kangaroos, and more koalas.  That night we decided to get pizza from Dad's favorite restaurant, Giovanni's.  He apparently eats there a lot because they know him as Pol (hehe).

Bright Lights, Big City: NYE 2010

Sydney Australia - New Year's Eve capital of the world!

Day 5 (Friday Dec 30) - Mosman's Bay, Shrimp on the Barbe, NYE

Today was the day we had been waiting for, New Year's Eve!  We had heard all along that if you are going to be in Sydney you should come over New Years.  We had a full day planned.  Dad, Melissa, and Adam all got up early to go to the Sydney Fish Market.  They got us shrimp and prawn for our meal.  We made shrimp on the barbe using the grill on the public balcony of The Cove.  It was very yummy!  Since we didn't want to get too far from the city and didn't want to sit out all day reserving spots for the fireworks, we decided to ride the ferries.  We went out to Mosman's Bay.  We got a nice view of everyone lining up to watch the fireworks.  They weren't scheduled until 9pm but people were lining up by noon.  We came back to cook our fancy NYE dinner.  We cleaned the prawn all by ourselves (and when I say we I mean Adam and I).  It was a fun experience but made my hands smell like fish for at least a day after.

After dinner we went down to the harbour to stake out a spot for the fabulous fireworks we had been hearing so much about.  There were SO many people in Sydney for New Year's.  They estimate that about 1 million people come to Sydney specifically for the holiday.  Needless to say we were not expecting the enormous crowds.  Popular spots such as on the Opera House steps fill up very early and then are closed off to additional people.  We eventually found a good spot where we could still see the Opera House but couldn't see the bridge.  The 9pm fireworks did not disappoint.  After those we decided to head back up to our balcony for the midnight fireworks.  We had our champagne all ready to go.  We watched a lighted boat parade to pass the time.  Unfortunately we still could not see the bridge for the midnight fireworks but had the TV going to see them live.  It was a fantastic fireworks show, probably one of the most intense I have ever seen.  Watching the people come home from the midnight fireworks definitely made us glad we were already at home!  We went to bed soon after to prepare for another day of touring!

Riding the HO HO and Living the Beach Life

Day 3 (Wednesday Dec 29) - Hop On Hop Off, Bondi Beach

Today was our first hot and sunny day in Sydney.  We decided that we would be buying our Hop On Hop Off bus tickets today.  The Hop On Hop Off (or more affectionately known to us as the HO HO) is a double-decker tourist bus that takes you around the city.  A narrative describes the different sites you see.  You can buy a ticket and get on and off as many times as you want for 24 hours.  We decided today was the day we would conquer it.  Lucky for us the first stop was Circular Quay, about two blocks from our hotel.  We got to see different sites such as The Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Town Hall, The Rocks, St Mary's Cathedral, Hyde Park, Kings Cross (the red light district), Sydney Fish Market, and many others.  We didn't expect to stay on as long as we did but we rode the entire ride all the way through.  We went home for lunch and changed into our beach gear.  I discovered that I left my swimsuits state side after emptying my suitcases and turning my bedroom upside down.

Since the HO HO also has a Bondi Beach route, we decided to take the bus to Bondi in the late afternoon.  Unfortunately we couldn't figure our exactly where the bus picked up.  We ended up taking a regular bus out there instead.  You never realize it until you get there but the beaches are all a good 30 minutes away from downtown Sydney.  We got there around 4pm.  We sat on the beach a little and of course Melissa pushed me into the water when a wave was coming and I got all wet.  We had our first experience with take away (aka take out) fish and chips.  Then we went shopping along the boardwalk with the soul purpose of finding Rachel a new swimsuit.  I got one and we decided to head back to the city.  Unfortunately so did everyone else. We had a bad experience trying to get on the bus.  Melissa, Mom, and I all got on but the driver would not let Adam and Dad on.  We eventually made it back all safe and sound but it was quite the crisis at the time.

  

Day 4 (Thursday Dec 30) - Coastal Walk, Bondi to Cooge

 

Today was another nice day (sunny and warm).  We decided to do the coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Cooge.  We made our way back out to Bondi Beach.  After lathering up with sunscreen we headed out.  Our first stop was Mackenzie's Beach.  We kept on walking and soaking in the views and our next beach was Tamarama Beach.  We were pretty hot at this point so decided to stop and take a dip.  Mom decided to stay back with the bags in the shade.  Melissa, Adam, Dad, and I went into the ocean.  You always forget how much you hate the taste of salt water until it gets in your mouth.  We also got to experience baths.  They are smaller sheltered pools of salt water where the little children learn to swim.  Baths are my new favorite and I wish I lived on the beach just so I could swim in one every day!  Our next stop was Bronte Beach.  We stayed here for lunch.

  

 

After Bronte, we headed off toward Covelly.  This beach was a little different than the rest. There was a lot of pavement and it reminded me of a public outdoor pool except the water was obviously the ocean.  This half of the walk after lunch was very hot and there wasn't as much of a chance to dip in the ocean.  The next point of interest was the Waverly Cemetery.  This cemetery boasts some of the most expensive plots with the best views.  After the cemetery we finally hit Cooge.  We stopped at a Beach Bar to get some refreshments before laying out on the beach.  After a long day in the sun it was nice to head home for an early night.

The Climb of Your Life -- I Climbed It!!

Another highlight of the trip was climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  I have a great fear of heights so this was a big thing for me to do.  There are 3 climbs to choose from; The Discovery Climb, The Express Climb, and the classic Bridge Climb.  The Discovery takes you along the inner arch of the bridge and you get to wind through the bridge in order to get a more up close look at the bridge itself.  The Express is a faster version of the climb.  We chose to do the classic Bridge  Climb.  Between the prep work, the actual climb, and taking pictures, the climb totals around 3.5 hours.  Melissa and I chose to do this on my second day in Sydney.  We were both excited and I was a little nervous considering my fear of heights.  It was a nice cool day and overcast.  This made for a comfortable, not too blustery climb.

You start out by doing about 45 minutes of prep work.  They put you through a series of tests (including a breathalyzer).  You have to sign forms, meet other members of your group, change into your bridge suits (as seen to the left on Kola the Koala and Jill the Kangaroo), and practice climbing the hard part of the bridge.  Our leader Gil was very nice but kept calling me Renee for some reason.  Once we were all bridge suited up (Barney Stinson would be proud) we started off towards the bridge.  You first have to walk along VERY narrow planks to get out to the bridge.  Then you start climbing up stairs once inside the pylon.  The most intense part of the climb is next.  You have to climb straight up four sets of ladders.  You hit your knees all the way up and having to move your ball that attaches you to the bridge is cumbersome.

Once you are done with the ladders, you are actually on the bridge.  Climbing up the outer arch is probably the least frightening part of the whole experience.  You are attached and you cannot see through the steps.  The steps aren't that high so it doesn't feel like you are climbing at all.  It is a little windy especially when you get to the top but the views are worth it.  You get to the top and when you cross over to come back down, there is a real feeling of accomplishment.  You know that you have done something that not a lot of people get to do and have climbed one of the most iconic and recognizable symbols in the world.

The climb down is a lot less memorable but climbing down the ladders was almost worse then climbing up them.  The ladders on the way down are right next to the subway train that runs across the bridge and there is nothing more terrifying then a speeding train going by you when you are climbing down ladders above the Sydney Harbor.  The one downer on the climb was that there was an annoying little boy with us.  It definitely did not deter from the once in a lifetime experience.

Although a bit pricey, the experience is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.  If you find yourself in Sydney this is an attraction not to be missed and certainly one I will not forget anytime soon!

Kangaroos, Koalas, and Gondolas, Oh My!

Day 2 (Tuesday Dec 28) - Bridge Climb, Circular Quay, and Taronga Zoo

On our second day in OZ Melissa and I decided to do the BridgeClimb.  It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and deserves its own post!

After that we went and explored around Circular Quay some more and headed to the Taronga Zoo.  We took a ferry over there.  The Taronga Zoo is situated on a hill.  You can either walk, take a bus, or take a gondola to the top.  We opted for the bus since the gondola line was long.  Once we got in, we walked around to see the different animals they have in Australia.  We happened across the koalas right when they were doing a feeding demonstration.  We got to listen to the zookeeper talk about the koalas and got to see him feed them.  We learned lots of interesting facts.  Did you know that koalas aren't bears, their closest relatives are kangaroos and wallabies, they don't like being cuddled, and can sleep for up to 20 hours a day!  After saying goodbye to baby Tilly, we headed to other exhibits.

We got to see Taz the Tasmanian devil and Melissa donated some money to help save them since they are endangered.  We also got to see kangaroos and some other animals such as elephants and birds that you can see in Madison at the Henry Vilas Zoo.

After walking halfway down the hill we realized that the zoo was close to closing.  Since Melissa really wanted to ride the gondolas, we walked back to the top in order to ride them down.  We waited in a long line and finally got to ride them.  After getting to the bottom we raced a bunch of other people because everyone was trying to get on the ferries back to the city.

 

That night we ate at one of Adam's favorite restaurants from his last visit in Darling Harbour.  It was an all you can eat ribs place.  After eating, we walked around Harbourside (the mall in Darling Harbour) and then headed back home for the night.

Ferry Boats and Finding Nemo

Day 1 (Monday Dec 27) - Brekkie in Darling Harbour, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower, QVB

The first day mom and I arrived in Sydney, Adam and Melissa had already been there for three days.  We went to the apartment and I took a shower.  After that Dad, Adam, Melissa, and I went for a late breakfast in Darling Harbour.  The whole time we were there a lot of the shops weren't open because they close down for Christmas and New Years.  We went to the Lizard Lounge and got Brekkie.  Because Melissa and I were very hungry, we got eggs, bacon (more like ham), toast, and coffee.  Adam and Dad got toast and flat whites (coffee).  After brekkie we walked around Darling Harbour for a little bit before heading back to the apartment.  We picked up Mom and got our rain gear around since it was looking like it might rain. 

We then headed down to Circular Quay which is the main ferry station for Sydney.  We purchased transportation tickets and took a ferry back to Darling.  We were going to stop at the Aquarium first but there was a very long line to purchase tickets.  We headed up to the Sydney Tower instead.  Since the lines were shorter there we purchased our tourist passes and headed on up.  The Sydney Tower is the tallest building in Sydney and boasts the best views of the city.  We got to see 360 degree views of the entire city!  We also got to see the world's tallest working mailbox.

After the Sydney Tower we headed back to the Aquarium.  The lines were shorter since we now had our passes.  We went to see the famous Shark Tunnel they have.  You walk in a tunnel and the sharks swim all around you.  We also got to see Nemo and Dori!  We touched shark eggs which look a lot like pine cones.  They also have lots of Lego figurines all around the aquarium.

After the aquarium we went to the Queen Victoria Building (QVB).  They have lots of high end shopping in there.  They had a large four story Christmas tree.  The tree was covered in Swarovski crystals!  It was very pretty.  After walking around the QVB we headed home but not before making our first of many stops at Cole's (local grocery store).  It was quite a culture shock seeing this small underground grocery store in the middle of the city.  We picked up stuff for dinner (bruchetta, ravioli, and wine) and some other necessities that we would need for the week before heading home.  After a long day it was nice to relax with a home cooked meal and get to bed early!

Bon Voyage! - My Adventure Down Under

So I LOVE to travel! Over winter break, I was afforded the opportunity to visit one of the place on my bucket list; Australia.  I spent over two weeks in the Sydney area with my family.  My mom and I left on Christmas Day and we were there through the New Year.

Traveling to Sydney was definitely an adventure in itself.  It takes about 24 hours to get there from the time you leave to the time you land (not including the time change).  Mom and I left around 3:00pm from the Madison airport.  We arrived in Chicago with another stop at LAX.  The plane ride to the west coast was relatively uneventful.  I sat between a little girl traveling with her family, also going to Australia although they would end up in Melbourne.  On the other side was a man from Paris! He was traveling to LA.  We watched Charlie St. Cloud, not the best movie ever.  Once we got to LA it was about 9pm Pacific, 11pm Central time.  Our plane was delayed getting out of LA but not by much.  Once on the plane, I sat in my aisle seat next to a couple from Ukraine.  They didn't talk much.  I watched a lot of movies, ate a lot, and got some quality reading in.  Not a whole lot of sleep for me though.  We landed in Sydney about 9am.  We were definitely tired from traveling and all I wanted to do was take a shower.  Dad met us at the airport to escort us to his apartment in Sydney.  It was about a 30 minute train ride into the city.  Melissa and Adam met us at the Wynyard train station, the closest to The Cove (Dad's apartment building).  And so begins our adventure down under!