Après Siesta

So, we’d our wee siesta, although neither slept. How could you sleep through an Oz Day in Syd?

Our room proved to be spacious and the bed very comfy indeed. They had thoughtfully placed a bottle of water by each bedside, at $8-50 a pop. It was still there when we left!

Down into the surging masses we went. We had to get something to eat, but the crowds of people already eating meant there’d be no room in this inn. We strolled about, just being happy, people watching. The Australian Air Force put on a fly past with three serious looking planes. A helicopter was towing a huge Oz flag under it. The tall ships, well three of them, had a wee race. The ferries were full with people wanting to see the celebrations from the water. The police arrested a man, using about twenty officers, four vehicles, a two-manned speedboat, and a great big gunboat. I nearly lost my video camera for filming a crime scene. And a police officer proved to me some people should never be allowed to don a uniform!

Anyway, we found a bar with room for two tired out bodies. So we elbowed them out of the way and went in ourselves. Just a beer each, trying to get food would be like waiting for the last bus. You’d know it was coming, but not know when. We drank up, and headed for a carryout, as advertised up the hill a bit. Turned out it was a Lebanese grocers, but we got the loveliest flatbread wraps. Sat in an adjoining park ate our fill, and watched again. Marvellous.

Back down to the pier again, and the crowds were even bigger. The rock bands more funky, and more of them. The people swaying to the beat. The beat that seemed a tad louder than before. Smiling happy faces. The sun beating down like it was going out of fashion. Yes, and it was the last week in January! Sorry guys, we don’t miss the weather you are having.

Time was wearing on, we’d go back to the room, shower, change and find somewhere nice for dinner.

This we did. We found a nice Italian place. Eastbank. Right on the waters edge beside Circular Quay. This café, bar, pizzeria had two empty tables and one was all we needed.

We ordered a tasting platter for starters, $33, two pasta dishes $27 each and a bottle of Brokenwood Semillon @ $48.

I can’t get over the price of locally produced wine. Very often it’s cheaper to buy it in the UK, than a few miles from where it’s produced. The Oz Government must be making a fortune from it. I have actually seen French wine on menus cheaper than its Oz counterpart. Time I think to boycott local wine.

After what turned out to be a delicious meal, and we haven’t had a bad one yet! We walked up to the Opera House. It was on the same side of the harbour, and hordes of people were still dandering about. Along with tens of thousands of others we were going to watch the fireworks on the bridge. I got talking to a guy from Adelaide, an Aussie through and through. He had fallen out big time with his country and tomorrow, along with his Venezuelan girl friend, was going to live in the Amazon jungle. I can dig them out, can’t I.

Instead of the fireworks being the height of the evening, being told we were in the wrong place, and they’d already gone off on Darling Harbour bridge was! Walked up the steps and got the camera out, and thought, time for bed.