LAST FEW DAYS IN BONDI

Sammie has loved walking along the coast near Bondi beach.

And we have also been lucky because the YHA in Bondi has a brilliant roof terrace overlooking the sea where you can chill with bean bags and read.

There has been plenty of time to relax inbetween the long walks along the cliffs in Bondi. Sammie says her leg muscles are killing her because I have walked her so much.
We finally got to meet up with Carmel, to treat her to a belated birthday meal at a lovely Italian restaurant at the end of Bondi Beach. The atmosphere reminded me a bit of the Flying Pizza in its hey day in Leeds. But I have to say that the view over here is a lot more impressive than Street Lane in Leeds.

The food was delicious, I had my fish filleted at the table by a very nice waitor!! which all added to the experience!.
The next day Sammie and I chilled out on Bronte beach. This is my favourite beach near Bondi.

We then got the bus into Sydney to meet up with Katherine, Emma and Lucas, who I met in Cambodia.

They had heard me talk about Sammie so much they were eager to meet up with her. We went to the Rooftop bar in Sydney. It is an amazing venue, outside amongst the skyscrapers, with live music.We had a great night!


And plenty of cocktails.

BLUE MOUNTAINS

We got the early morning train to the Blue Mountains. I loved them when I visited there a few weeks ago, so I was hoping Sammie would feel the same. Well she did. It is hard not to be impressed by the panoramic views that face you when you reach Echo point.

We had our photo taken overlooking the three sisters. But knowing that Sammie does not "do bugs" as she keeps telling me, we decided to do a slightly shorter walk through the trees to the waterfall and the world's steepest railway!!! I had managed to avoid using this the last time, but I had promised that I would go on it with Sammie. I really need to watch what I am promising!!

We had a great walk to the waterfalls and Sammie even got close enough to some of the bugs to take photograhs, so she was feeling very brave. I on the otherhand was not quite so brave as we waited for the railway carriage to take us up to the top. But I did manage a smile before we set off.

I have to say I lost the plot halfway up! I panicked and said to Sammie "oh god I have to get off , this is too much, I need to get off now" She just laughed like mad and said " just how are you going to get off.Just hang on, you will be ok", I clung to the wire netting that was surrounding the seats and wedged my feet and knees until we reached the top. I can honestly say I would never do it again, but I am glad that I survived the world's steepest railway.


We then took a cable car across the gorge and I was not afraid so I suppose that is a bonus. When I go skiiing I am usually petrified of using the cable cars.

When we got back to the YHA I was ready for a well earned rest. And much to Sammie's amusement we got allocated the top bunks.
I have been fortunate so far not to have a top bunk. She just kept laughing at me evertime I got on and off it. I have to say I am not very agile when it comes to using top bunks!!but it was very comfortable.

SHELLY BEACH

Sammie has been lucky with the weather so far. Bright sunshine everyday.
We got the ferry from Darling harbour to Circular Quay. Then took the ferry to Manly and walked along to Shelly beach, which is really pretty.
We met up with Annabel and her son Fin
and spent a few lazy few hours sunbathing and chatting. We also watched a wedding on the beach, which is a perfect setting. We had a fantastic fish takeaway from a little cafe on the edge of the beach. A little while later Hannah, a German girl that I met in Batemans Bay, came to meet up with us for a while.
She is a nanny in Sydney, but her job finishes in a couple of weeks and she heads off back to Germany. It was great to see her again.
Sammie and I were then supposed to meet up with Carmel in the evening for dinner in Watson's Bay. It would have taken ages getting ferries to get there. But she is working so hard on the preparations for the Sydney film festival,which is on next month, that she cancelled. And to be honest Sammie and I were relieved as we were trying to do too much in a day. I know I can hear you all now saying that is typical of Siobhan!!!

So Sammie and took a leisurely ferry ride back into Sydney and enjoyed the night time views of the bridge(That I risked my life to climb!!!!!)

and the impressive skyline.

And for all you photographers out there .....I know I need to hold the camera steady on the night time exposure, but you try it on a bumpy boat!!!! you get the idea at least of how impressive the skyline is.