Day 10 - They say it's your birthday!

It's my birthday too, yeah.  In a manner of speaking, anyway.  Happy 29th birthday, to my lovely and talented wife, Rene.  And because I love you, we don't need to talk about how many times the 29th birthday has been celebrated.  It's your birthday, and that's all we need to celebrate.

And happy ninth anniversary to us.  The time has flown by and we have had a lot of adventures together, but none like this.  Cheers!

We began the day by walking away from the Rocks and Circular Quay towards the City Centre down Kent Street.  Under the light of day, we can see that we are in the public housing area, though it is well kept and safe and quiet.  Incredible to have a hotel like the Langham in the middle of it.  But the Aussies take it seriously how everyone should live and live with dignity.

As we made our way down Kent Street to Darling Harbor, we walked into a number of lane ways we will visit later today and tomorrow.  We got a chance to talk to Katy, L.R., and Rachel as we were walking around.  It is strange calling at 10:00 a.m. in Sydney and talking to the kids on Tuesday evening.  But they got to send birthday wishes a day early and right on time, if you know what I mean.

Nick and Katie, let us know the best time for us to call you (send me [Scot]) an email.  We figure in the evening through the night that either one or both of you are working.

Today was a tour through Sydney.  Our guide today was Jens, originally from Denmark, who came to Australia thirty some odd years ago to take a job.  I think he likes it here.  Jens started us through the Rocks and Circular Quay.  He started out by pointing out the arrogance of the European "history" with Captain Cook and all that malarkey, though I do believe the part about not being able to navigate the Great Barrier Reef.  Saying that Cook "discovered" Australia ignores the fact the the aborigines lived there some 35,000 years prior to his discovery, but we know a little about doing that.  I have a picture of a dead European's tomb in the Catholic Church in Sevilla, though I will say, it was interesting to see that.

But I digress.  Okay, one more digression.  It appears the Portuguese, Spanish, and Danes all were in Australia before Cook.  So stick it, James.

Jens, Rene, and I discussed all things about life and thee history and culture of Australia.  By the end of the tour, I am pretty sure we had it all figured out.  If only those in power would call.  More about the tour later.

We are staying in the Rocks area.  A lot of history to the area.  This is where the Brits brought their convicts.  I could not do any summary of what went on here jutice.  Plus, this isn't a history lesson, it's a travel blog.  Needless to say, it is fascinating.

Why am I still talking?  Here are some pictures.

Well, wait a minute.  First, a plug for Nobbys peanuts.  Or Nobby's nuts of any kind.  Wait for it, but you get the idea where this may be going, right?  Seriously, Nobbys beats the hell out of anything Planters or Fischers has ever done.  And the use of alliteration with a sense of humor for the marketing tag line helps.  Been buying and nibbling ever since Danae and the folks at Hidden Secret Tours put some Nobby's nuts in the sack (ahem) they gave us.

How can you not love that?  We will be bringing back some Nobbys so you can nibble Nobby's nuts, too.  Deloosh.

Pictures.

Darling Harbour.  There's an Imax Theatre, the Aquarium, and all sorts of shops and restaurants there.

 Looking at the entrance of the Langham Hotel.  Very formal.  Very British.  And very nice.

 Protests from the neighbors about moving them out to let the rich people regentrify the neighborhood.  Where to move the folks who need public housing?  One of the many topics of discussion on the tour with Jens.

 Fuel is expensive and motorcycles keep fuel costs down.  Plus, when the weather is between 20 and 25 C, that is perfect weather to get out and ride.

One of the older buildings near Darling Harbour.

Unfortunately, one of the pictures we didn't get was one of the whale going north at the mouth of Sydney Harbor.  Rene has about 87 pictures of water on her iPhone trying to get a good picture of the the whale (the spirit of Steve Jobs is just mocking us, I am sure the next overly expensive iPhone will have a camera that misses the picture a little closer).  Beautiful view, nonetheless.  Here's a picture.  Or five, to be precise, of the entrance to the harbour.

We went through a number of neighborhoods of the rich and famous. And ate lunch and had tea at the   Vaucluse House Tearooms.

Bondi Beach.  One of the more popular beaches in Sydney.  Full of surfers.

We went all through the neighborhoods through the Sydney metropolitan area, which is comprised of Sydney metro, an area of about 3.5 square miles, and surrounded by numerous municipalities (more than St. Louis county's 90+).  We went through Kings Cross has a lot of cafes and is nice, even though the red light district is thisclose to it.  As we drove through the red light district - on the way to Darlinghurst - Jens pointed out that one of the best seats to watch what was going on there was a long table in the McDonalds.  Maybe if we see all of the other sights on our next trip.

Paddington is a former working class neighborhood and the terraces and homes have wrought-iron lace verandas that remind you of New Orleans.  Darlinghurst has the largest Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parades in the world.

One of the last streets Jens took us by before he dropped us off was the Woolloomooloo Parkway.  The story goes that if you get pulled over for a field sobriety test, one of the tests is to spell it.  Think a picture of a lamb (wool), poo (yes, we're back to talking about poop again) loo, a cow (moo), and then back to poo (loo).  So, sheep poop, cow poop.  Jens really thinks it is an aboriginal word for baby kangaroo.

Jens dropped us off at the Odyssey Wine Bar in the Rocks area.  Jens told Rene about a special wine made by Andrew Thomas that she should order there.  A shiraz called Kiss.  So, Rene in fact ordered a Kiss shiraz.  It's a real wine.  The 2011 vintage goes for $60 a bottle.  Go Google it if you don't believe me.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any.  So, the birthday girl made do.

At the Odyssey enjoying a different red.

Dinner at Fish at the Rocks.  Highly recommended by Jens and the concierge at the hotel.  A short, two block walk down Kent Street.  Seats about 40.  A lot of the locals go there.  Great food.  Enjoyed a Moreton Bay Bug, every bit as good as the Port Fairy Bugs we had in Apollo Bay.

Walked back to the Circular Quay to look at that bridge we're going to climb tomorrow.

Cheers!