Beach, Bays and Best Views

12/04/2012


Well our penultimate day in Australia dawned once more clear bright and blue. We had certainly enjoyed marvellous weather during our stay and as this was to be our last full day, we decided to revisit Bondi and do the cliff top walk to Bronte beach again.

This time I was to going to swim in the surf off Bondi.

Man against nature and there was only going to be one winner. Me !!!

 Pauline shrugged and seemed unimpressed. Big mistake, I was in the zone, or something similar.

The bus ride once more was a treat, so many characters to observe on the ride to the beach. The surf was up and the lifeguards were in action making sure you only swam between the red flags. They were strict, but then they needed to be, the surf looked a little rough.

 
 The Lifeguards station on red alert, Tezza was in the mood for a swim.

There is only one ways to enter the surf, its a mad dash, a leap, similar to a salmon, and there you are engulfed in a maelstrom of water. Pauline's words of wisdom rang in my ear "..be careful "

Body surfing, nothing to it!!!

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Bondi tamed, time for a sunbathe. You were a challenge, but I mastered you. Even if a rogue wave, loaded with sand, nearly took all of the skin off my back, but no regrets sometimes, you just have to take it.









We  took advantage of the lovely sunny day and had a sunbathe and after a couple of hours decided to have lunch at Lush, a nice little beach side cafe, which had an extensive menu and was good value for money.

As we prepared to leave this most iconic of beaches were took one last look at the sweeping vista.

Next stop Bronte and a nice walk along the cliff top. As we had done this walk before, this time we savoured the experience even more. As we came around a small headland we notice a small group of people clustered around a young women. On closer inspection it appeared to be a photo shoot.

 Now this was a surreal thing that opened up in front of us. A skinny model, surrounded by six people who fussed and prodded and preened her and continually talked in platitudes.

 What an unreal  world this seemed, but it was fascinating to observe it.

Bronte Beach is, in its own right, a very impressive place.Besides the beach, there is a small park which leads you to the bus stop and the ride back to Surry Hills. Again its a good place to people watch and relax. Ben and Anna seem to visit this beach on a regular basis and I can see the attraction.

We returned to Surry Hills with fond memories of this area of Sydney, its sums up the " Australian Dream ", work to live, not live to work.

On our final evening in Sydney we were to dine at a city centre restaurant. Ben had booked it in advance and had been tight lipped about where it was. We were not to be disappointed. The Customs House is located at Circular Quays and is an impressive Georgian building. It houses the Sydney Public Library and is even said to be haunted by David O'Connor, a convict, hanged on the site in 1790, who supposedly appears offering drinks of rum.

The Sydney Cafe is located on the top floor and is one of the city's finest eateries. We were to be seated on the terrace balcony which offered the most stunning views of the harbour. The food, most importantly, was well prepared, well presented and it tasted out of this world. We dined that night, with an evening view of the harbour, that took your breathe away.

A view from inside, looking out towards the outside balcony.

A very special end to another great day. Thank you to our son and daughter-in-law for arranging such a fitting end to our final night in Australia. Thank you both.

Tomorrow we were to fly home in the early evening. Our time in Oz was nearly at an end. Tears tomorrow, no doubt, but what a trip and what a time we have had.