Today it was 41 degrees in Sydney and it is not even summer yet!
So what did we decided to do on this stinking hot day. Walk 12 km. Yes that is right. We walked from our hostel to the opera house, to the harbour bridge, around the Rocks and back to the hostel. All in all around 12 km
We walked up past the shopping streets, Martin Place and Federation Square and before too long found ourselves at Circular Quay gazing up at the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
We walked around the quay so we could get a good look at the Opera House from across Sydney cove and while we were there we continued around to have a look under the Harbour Bridge at Dawes Point.
From here we walked down to the Rocks. This apparently was the home of the sailors seediness and debauchery at the times of the first settlements. Now it has been ‘renovated’ into trendy boutiques, galleries, restaurants etc and is a gorgeous place to stroll around. It reminded me a lot of Bermondsey or Shad Thames or Borough in London.
We had managed to get lucky as the Rocks Markets were on. At the top of the Markets was a delicious Hawaiian Ice store so with our ice lollies in hand we strolled down the sail covered stores.
We were both really surprised at the markets but perhaps we were so used to the South East Asian varieties of markets that we were expecting imitation shoes, watches and sunglasses. Instead the market had local crafts and produce as well as some funky art and jewellery. We bought a couple of items before pulling up at a local pub for lunch.
So for the first time in over 4 years we had some proper fish and chips. We are not saying that UK does not have great fish and chips, they most likely do, it’s just that we never found them. And we know that the UK invented the meal however in our humble opinion Australia perfected it. So at a small pub in the Rocks in Sydney we had a fabulous fish and chips, and contemplated just how truly great it was to be home.
Fully satisfied we braved the heat for the long walk back to the Hostel.
We self catered in the hostel, chatting to the other guests before hitting the sack absolutely exhausted.
