Icons to Icons....

Sunday 13^th November

An early start to the day as I had to be out and on the coach for 6-30 a.m., and we headed over to the airport for an early flight to the Nation’s capital – Canberra. We landed in a cold and windy Canberra just after noon, and as we got outside the airport found the unusual sight of a Kangaroo hopping through the car parking ranks ! ( I wasn’t quick enough with the camera !).

We headed initially to the Hotel, where we managed to get some extra clothing out of our cases before being taken on a short tour of the almost deserted capital city ... it’s the capital, because they couldn’t decide between Sydney and Melbourne...and so selected Canberra as a compromise ! a well laid out place...then we went up to a viewpoint overlooking the city, and Parliament in the distance ...then we actually went to the Parliament itself for a visit alongside lots of other people, taking advantage of there being no politicians around ! – An impressive building, with a huge national flag flying over it

 I was able to wander around the impressive welcome hall and both upper and lower parliamentary chambers, even seeing the only copy of the Magna Carta in the Southern hemisphere...

we then made our way to the Hotel, for a relaxed evening, where I was able to catch up with ‘blogging’!

Monday 14^th November a relaxed start to the day leaving the hotel at 9 a.m. for another short tour of Canberra, mainly around the Diplomatic areas, and then to the National War memorial – a very impressive avenue of recollection, memorials to all the services and different areas of war that Australians had been involved in, and also quite a good museum... made all the more impressive because, it being the day after Remembrance Sunday, there was a sea of poppies all around...

we spent the morning there, before heading off for our road journey to Sydney, arriving there mid afternoon...

suddenly after being in such quiet areas for such  a long time I was assailed by vast swathes of humanity...it was packed !!... I had a quick look round, before getting out the ‘glad rags’ for an evening meal at the swanky ‘O’ bar restaurant, 47 floors up on a revolving floor looking out over the Sydney skyline whilst eating a Degustation menu (very impressive), drinking some nice cocktails and wine, seeing for the first time the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, laid out before me...

 I staggered back to the Hotel having paid out a lot for the privilege...but enjoyable!

Tuesday 15^th November, time to see Sydney in daylight, firstly across to the harbour area, and views beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and views across to the Opera house ( pics 4139,4141)  – I would see these same buildings many times, and from all angles over the next few days ! We had a good coach tour of the city, then out to Bondi Beach – a lot smaller than I expected, and in keeping with the rest of the tour....cold and windy!

  ... we didn’t stop there too long, continuing our tour of the area, and looking back over the water towards Sydney City in the distance

Mid day saw us back in Sydney, at the harbour area for an included lunch at a fish restaurant, where I left everyone and returned to the Hotel .

Early evening I met up with the 3 friends that I’d travelled over the Grand St Bernard pass, traversing the Alps earlier in the year whilst on the Via Francigena – Peter, Sandy and Jenny who had all travelled into Sydney to meet up with me! A great evening of reminiscences, drinking and eating followed, before once again, we all went our separate ways...

Wednesday 17^th November another early start to meet up with a tour going into the ‘Blue Mountains’ , one that everyone recommends, although ill only be getting a flying tour of them ! We started off with another view of Sydney

across the bay, and then out to the Bert Saunders animal Reserve – not what I’m really into, however the Koala bears were ‘cute ‘ !! 

Then out from Sydney, and up to a viewpoint looking across the Blue mountains – so called because of the blue haze that hovers above them...see it ?

 By 12 noon we were into an old, small village called Laura, where we had lunch, then continued up to ‘Scenic world’ where there were various cable car rides across the valley... I preferred to walk it myself, and so headed off beneath the cable cars, down into the valley and through the rainforest shaded beneath the steep cliffs , with views across to the 5 sisters rock pinnacles ( although there’s only 3 left !), beneath waterfalls , and great views

By now it was mid afternoon so back on the coach and down to the ‘Sydney Olympic park’, where we were boarded onto a boat for a scenic cruise back into Sydney..beneath the harbour bridge and passing the Opera house

.. I got off the boat at the harbour point, and deciding that it was a good time to climb...the Sydney harbour bridge, not quite to the top, but about 50 metres and $400 cheaper, as I walked across the public walkway across the bridge alongside the traffic, and returning as the sun went down over Sydney

then along to the Opera house, as the big cruise ship left harbour ..

... whew, what a long day, and I had to eat yet – a nice Greek restaurant near to the Hotel, the ‘original Greek restaurant in Sydney ‘ !!, then collapsed into bed...

Thursday 17^th November it was a leisurely 930 a.m. departure from the chaotic hotel, off to the airport and , leaving Sydney behind we flew to Melbourne, a more relaxed and pleasant city, where I happily wandered in the afternoon sunshine, finding my way around, seeing the old and new buildings blended together, with some great stained glass in the Anglican cathedral

and a visit to a dumpling house in the nearby ‘Chinese quarter’ finished off a nice casual day

Friday 18^th November another leisurely 9 a.m. start on a coach out into the hills surrounding Melbourne, - the Dandenong ranges, a bit rolling rather than hills, anyway up we went to the ‘Famous Puffing Billy’ railway ...a now private steam railway run by volunteers...for a short trip along the track through the surrounding forest and farmland. As we waited on the platform I was surprised to see that one of the steam engines had been built at the Gorton Manchester works of Beyer Peacock...an area I know very well from my earlier career – us Mancunians get everywhere !

 After our short trip we returned to Melbourne where I was dropped off and had a walk up and along the busy riverside, alongside all the restaurants and bars, with some nice artworks along the way

and a leisurely afternoon and evening followed, with a great visit to a busy Mexican restaurant  !

Saturday 19^th November was to be a free day, so like others I had a nice late breakfast before wandering across to the famous Queen Victoria market.. I spent a couple of hours meandering around it (although not buying !) then I walked to the harbour area, before I caught the free city tram, which took me around the city. I then went to St Patricks cathedral

 more good stained glass windows, and then through the surrounding park and water fountain area

I returned to St Patricks in the evening for the vigil mass, and a procession through the Holy Door, before it closed the following morning – the end of the Year of Mercy , I’ve been through many ‘Holy Doors’ during this year... from the opening in Nottingham ,through England ,France, Italy Rome, and now Australia... what a year it’s been ! Another great Greek meal followed