3 days in Sydney 5th-8th November

We spent our first day in Thornleigh where Janet our host lives and Louise is staying. We had homemade pizza's for lunch and took Johnny to Dog Beach. Had homemade Thai for dinner and met Janet's other lodgers Barbara a lovely 65 year old lady, Zach Aussie who was a chatty funny butcher and Zach Chinese who was quiet and not home a lot. Janet was the most amazing host and even spent the night at her boyfriend Tim's so we could have her room.

Day 2 was Melbourne Cup Day. We had planned to meet Ant at 1pm at Kings Cross, and Rach and Pete at 1.30pm at Edgecliff a train stop away. We got the train into Sydney early so we could see the Opera Hose and Harbour Bridge. We saw some art at the MoMA and walked from City Quay to Kings Cross going through the botanical gardens, another Art Museum and St Mary's Cathedral. We picked up some deliciously filling sushi for lunch and made it to kings cross. We met Pete and Rach (great to see them again in OZ after leaving them in Queenstown) and had a much needed refreshing cider. Everyone was dressed up looking like they were all going to weddings, heels, hats and suits everywhere. The pubs were filled with people drinking fizz. A big day for the Aussies I felt massively under dressed. We met up with Ant and his two mates John & Ross and went on a bar crawl. We went to some very cool bars a little bit out of our price range but was great to see. My favourite a pub down the back street, a security guard outside a block painted shop front. Inside stairs led to this dark candle lit bar. A cowboy themed speak easy, a hidden gem in Sydney.

Day 3 Lou and I went to Manly Beach. We had fish & chips by the sea. The weather wasn't the best so we didn't swim but watched the surfers and walked along the beach. We headed back as we wanted to go to Chinatown before getting home for dinner. The ferry gave as great views of the opera house.

We finally found Chinatown after walking round the wrong corners. We went into every soft toy shop looking for a present for my cousins baby. We settled on a koala holding a baby koala in the millionth shop!

Janet had cooked us a lovely Lebanese dinner, with lamb koftas and stuffed white courgette and aubergines.

We thanked Janet for a lovely visit. It had been nice to have some home comforts after 3 months of travelling. We didn't see everything but did a lot with the time we had. Sydney was clean and the public transport was easy safe and affordable. It would be lovely to come back to Australia and see what the other cities have to offer.