Whelp, another travel destination that isn’t crossed off my list. Two days were far too few!

Monday was a trip to the Blue Mountains, a 2.5 hr one-way trip west of Sydney. I was thankful I’d grabbed an extra layer of clothing, as it was a dreary and windy 50° as I started my trek down Darwin’s Walk to reach the Wentworth Falls section of Blue Mountains National Park, marveling at strange flora and fauna including a bush with growths that I mistook for hairbrushes, squirrels, pine cones, and bottle cleaners (I think it’s called a banksia, but…?). Due to rockslides, my chosen path along the cliff face was closed, so I instead headed down a steep, 100 yr old handhewn stone staircase to the base of the canyon and Wentworth Falls. Then I got to trek back up. And up. And up up up. (This is the trend of my treks down under)

Looking out into the canyon, I could see white birds flying far below. I heard their call, a terrible squawk that might come from a bird hybrid of crow, hawk, and rooster. I guess that makes sense: caw-hawk-doodle doo sounds pretty close to cockatoo. 😉 If observation of the bellbird vs the cockatoo is any indication, bird calls and the showiness if their plumage must be inversely related.

In true I-only-have-one-day-to-see-all-the-things fashion, I hiked virtually every available path to every lookout and falls and via point. I was feeling ready to be done (a head cold helped with that), but a postcard in the gift shop boasted a view of the Three Sisters rock formation, and as a sister, I needed to see it. That required* a 3.5 km jog to a bus stand, a 15 minute bus ride (buses to Katoomba at 3:15p on a Monday are full of uniformed school kids – I felt a bit underdressed), and another 1 km walk to Echo Point, where I caught a view of the Three Sisters (fantastic) and a mob of selfie taking tourists (less so). I’m convinced half of the photographers didn’t see the view beyond their screens… And what a view it was!

*Term used loosely. I could have called a taxi or an Uber, but money and budgets…

I had just enough energy to take a hot shower to rinse off the 15 foot-miles and collapse into bed when I got back to the hostel at 8pm. What a stellar day!

I gave myself a lazy morning on Tuesday, leaving the hostel by 9am for a stroll around The Rocks district. Every street oozed of stories from early days of the penal colony. I found my way down to Circular Quay, a major transportation hub, and enjoyed watching the hubbub as I pressed my way through around the harbour toward the Opera House. I climbed the steps and wondered at the exterior of the architectural marvel (zigzagging glazed tiles!), enjoying the sun as it broke through the clouds.

Then caught a train to Central Station, where I enjoyed a wonderful visit with a friend from my time at Maxwell Academy, who was passing through on her way from her home north of Sydney. We swapped stories from the past 7 years with scarcely a beat missed. I just love people!!

I continued to get good use of my public transportation card (good on ya, Sydney! I like you more and more), hopping a bus east to the coast to marvel at Bondi Beach and the many surfers (first time I’ve seen a surfboard taken on a public bus). I walked along the coast for a few kilometers, soaking in the sun and surf, until catching another bus to a quiet suburb where I thoroughly enjoyed a 30 minute wait for the ferry back to central Sydney. Life needs to slow down more often, I think.

I had rumblies in my tumbly by the time I disembarked from the ferry, so stopped by a fish and chips stand. Perch fillet looked familiar, so I ordered that. This must be a different type of perch….I nearly bust a gut eating this slab of fish (and half the chips!) on my own, but decided it was part of my Aussie experience. 🙂

I closed out the afternoon with a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, admiring tiny blossoms and gawking at spreading fig trees. I meandered around the bay to Macquarie’s Point, where I joined dozens of others watching the sun set behind the Bridge and Opera House.

It was a full moon night, and I am my mother’s daughter, so I continued walking into the night, finding myself up on the Harbour Bridge overlooking the Opera House and enjoying a cool, calm evening, closing my time in Sydney with a smile.

Thanks for the show, Sydney. I’ll be back!