Wednesday, November 22, 2006
21st November A trip around the harbour and all things fishy
21st November (Tuesday)
Found a little internet café that offers wireless connection so I can upload some photos and blog. Global Gossip charge $6 for a 24 hour connection but if you log off then they charge you again to reconnect. Managed to upload a bit and catch up on emails. Then went to Circular Quay to travel the harbour and get some shots of SOH and Harbour Bridge. In the end I booked an evening tour of the harbour and a return ferry to Darling Harbour with admission to the Aquarium for right now. The ferry leaves in 3 minutes so get a move on! The ferry trip is fun and we stop at 3 places on the way. They act as a “bus”
Service for getting across the harbour and other parts of the bay which would take ages in the train or car or bus.
The Aquarium is large and has a seal sanctuary and an oceanarium along the lines of Melbourne. It was probably as big if not bigger than Melbourne but seemed to have too many fish, turtles, rays and sharks in it and had the feel of being crowded. There was a tank inside which had many types of fish and small sharks and rays. This was also a very large. Almost Oceanarium size and had a novelty. Usually the sell is that you walk through and under the aquarium and the fish swim over you. This aquarium had a glass floor and you walked over the fish. Different! I really didn’t enjoy walking around although some of the fact boards were quite interesting especially regarding crocodiles and alligators. All in all I felt the tanks were too small for many of the exhibits Had small lunch in café restaurant called 26, filo pastry topped with 3 slices large tomato, shredded red onion and water cress with a small serving of soured cream. Oh and schooner of Stella. That’s about 300ml.
Caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and headed for the hotel to change and return for the evening Sydney harbour tour at 8pm. Back to the quayside and onto the ferry ‘Charlotte’ for the grand one and a half hour around a large part of the immediate harbour and bay. But. Yes there’s always a but. I sat at the corner of the prow and starboard side of the ferry for a good all round view which is definitely what I got and looked forward to hearing the commentary as we sailed around. But the family from hell on holiday from Brisbane put paid to all that. As we left the dock their mobile rang and it didn’t leave her or his ear until 10 minutes before we re-docked. So the only commentary I got was all about their holiday and how they were sacrificing their time and needs whilst away, for the kids so they didn’t get bored. And how husband was going mad because he hadn’t visited a gym in 8 days and how he would have to leave them when they get to Melbourne because he’s so important at work he HAS to go back. And they’re really enjoying it but have to go shopping for food which the kids hate because they’re on holiday, but it saves money and the new car will be ready to pick up when they get back but hubby will have to do more overtime to pay for it and…………. Oh you get the picture.
Still, it was a good voyage and was pleasantly cool after a really hot but sticky day. It was 30c at 21.30 at the quayside.
Went and had dinner in a Austrian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel and ate Kalbfleisch mit cream champignons. Very good. And for dessert Cherry and cheese strudel, oh my word that was delicious. Back to the hotel for a lie down to nurse my full stomach. Groan! (Will pack in the morning)
Found a little internet café that offers wireless connection so I can upload some photos and blog. Global Gossip charge $6 for a 24 hour connection but if you log off then they charge you again to reconnect. Managed to upload a bit and catch up on emails. Then went to Circular Quay to travel the harbour and get some shots of SOH and Harbour Bridge. In the end I booked an evening tour of the harbour and a return ferry to Darling Harbour with admission to the Aquarium for right now. The ferry leaves in 3 minutes so get a move on! The ferry trip is fun and we stop at 3 places on the way. They act as a “bus”
Service for getting across the harbour and other parts of the bay which would take ages in the train or car or bus.
The Aquarium is large and has a seal sanctuary and an oceanarium along the lines of Melbourne. It was probably as big if not bigger than Melbourne but seemed to have too many fish, turtles, rays and sharks in it and had the feel of being crowded. There was a tank inside which had many types of fish and small sharks and rays. This was also a very large. Almost Oceanarium size and had a novelty. Usually the sell is that you walk through and under the aquarium and the fish swim over you. This aquarium had a glass floor and you walked over the fish. Different! I really didn’t enjoy walking around although some of the fact boards were quite interesting especially regarding crocodiles and alligators. All in all I felt the tanks were too small for many of the exhibits Had small lunch in café restaurant called 26, filo pastry topped with 3 slices large tomato, shredded red onion and water cress with a small serving of soured cream. Oh and schooner of Stella. That’s about 300ml.
Caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and headed for the hotel to change and return for the evening Sydney harbour tour at 8pm. Back to the quayside and onto the ferry ‘Charlotte’ for the grand one and a half hour around a large part of the immediate harbour and bay. But. Yes there’s always a but. I sat at the corner of the prow and starboard side of the ferry for a good all round view which is definitely what I got and looked forward to hearing the commentary as we sailed around. But the family from hell on holiday from Brisbane put paid to all that. As we left the dock their mobile rang and it didn’t leave her or his ear until 10 minutes before we re-docked. So the only commentary I got was all about their holiday and how they were sacrificing their time and needs whilst away, for the kids so they didn’t get bored. And how husband was going mad because he hadn’t visited a gym in 8 days and how he would have to leave them when they get to Melbourne because he’s so important at work he HAS to go back. And they’re really enjoying it but have to go shopping for food which the kids hate because they’re on holiday, but it saves money and the new car will be ready to pick up when they get back but hubby will have to do more overtime to pay for it and…………. Oh you get the picture.
Still, it was a good voyage and was pleasantly cool after a really hot but sticky day. It was 30c at 21.30 at the quayside.
Went and had dinner in a Austrian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel and ate Kalbfleisch mit cream champignons. Very good. And for dessert Cherry and cheese strudel, oh my word that was delicious. Back to the hotel for a lie down to nurse my full stomach. Groan! (Will pack in the morning)
# posted by desmond22 @ 12:23 am 
