Sydney here we come!

Another grey & misty morning in the mountains & goodbye to the 5 star smiles of Mark & Darren who run the 3 Sisters Motel with such cheer. (Shame the place is a little shabby around the edges & the walls between rooms are paper thin !!)
A last attempt to see the Grand Canyon & Govetts Leap before our drive to Sydney, but so misty we gave up....oh well, we'll be back!


Onward to Sydney, a straight forward route on motorway / highway, detouring via Parramatta to post all our maps & leaflets back home. Then to the airport to return the car - we've grown quite attached to      555 RBJ, but surplus to requirements in Sydney.

Get a taxi or use the train?  Let's give the train a go!  Purchased our week passes, but they don't cover the trip to the City from the airport. OK, never mind, purchase extra ticket & on our way on a double decker train - well, that's different!  All seemed fine until a youngish guy started talking on his mobile phone to his kids & started getting irate & verbally abusive to them! Guess who was standing next to him & who he started moaning to.... I always get the nutter on the train!

Having a small map of the city, but not sure of the distance to walk from Central Station, attempt to track down the "Light Railway" which turns out to be a tram! Tram driver very helpful & suggests we walk across the park to the street we are in search of, no need to get the tram.....no worries (as they say here), but now it's  pouring with rain! Get a cab, he says, it will only cost you a couple of bucks......$8 dollars & a hopeless & rude taxi driver later, we arrive at our apartment block, cases dumped unceremoniously on the pavement!!
WELCOME TO SYDNEY! Let's hope first impressions DON'T count!





Thankfully our apartment is terrific except for having to pay extra for internet access - everywhere else we have stayed it has been free! To quote Tyson on reception "You're in Sydney now, expect to pay extra for everything!"

Well, we didn't have to pay extra for a wonderful stroll round Darling Harbour, right on our doorstep. A lovely cosmopolitan feel to the city, loads of bars & restaurants & well cared for open spaces. A heavy downpour & tired feet sent us back to the apartment to chill out in our posh pad.......hope we just got off on the wrong foot today & will find that Sydney is a great place to be.