Sydney's wildside

Nothing to be afraid of, but for first time visitors to Sydney these lizards can be a surprise.

Seen on a harbourside bushwalk in our area, these reptiles happily bask and preen on sun heated stone. 

You will most often hear a rustle in the bush before you see them - but obviously this one is used to people passing by

He did not seem at all bothered by our close proximity, meandering slowly into the bush, giving me ample time to take a photo.

This baby was perched on the pathway, seemingly not all intimidated by us humans.

This walk is a must do for visitors to  Sydney with its natural bushland, prehistoric reptiles and other wildlife only a short ferry ride from the city.

Its intoxicating harbour views make for great photo opportunities too.

Sydney smiles

Most days my work keeps me tied to my desk or closeted in meetings, particularly at this time of year. 

Today, was a bit different.

I was out on a site visit to look at a venue for the Australian Tourism Awards.

Luna Park is a popular Sydney attraction located on Sydney harbour.  It originally opened in 1935 but  closed in 1979 after a fatal fire in the Ghost Train.  It didn't really open again successfully until 2004. 

It is now a leisure and corporate playground, combining amusement rides and venues for functions and events. 

Although I have good memories visiting in my teens,  an icecream followed by a ride on the Rotor was something I wish to forget.   So was coming down in our cage upside down from the top of the ferris wheel.

Original features - including the iconic smiling face at the entrance- remain, and looked great today. 

The sun was shining and the sky a bright Sydney blue.  Summer is here - at least for the moment.

 I can't believe the clarity of my photo, looking back under the Harbour Bridge to the city and the Opera House. And no that is not a white apartment block on the right - it is a cruise ship.

Don't you think when Sydney smiles, it really smiles?

School of the ocean

I have always loved the water and the beach.   

Mum used to say she could never take her eyes off me when we were on holidays at South West Rocks, I would always be crawling towards the water.

If you grow up in Sydney, especially if you live close to the coast, it's a given that you will learn to swim.

I didn't really learn to swim properly until I was about 9 or 10 - which was quite old.  It was seriously embarrassing to stand in the waders' pool with floaties on and surrounded by 4 year olds so I soon got myself out of there.

Once I learnt though, I never looked back.

 I went to life saving classes, swam in pool races on the weekends and occasionally went to the beach.

I was a pretty good swimmer - not necessarily fast - but could swim a long distance quite happily.

One day, when I was about 15 or 16 my friends left our beloved Cronulla beach and ventured further north to Manly.

That day I was trying to catch a wave alone, way out past the crowd (this was before the movie Jaws) and suddenly had a sensation of being pulled across by a rip towards this outcrop of rocks on the south east end of the beach before the open ocean.

The more I tried to swim against the rip, I realised I was going nowhere except further out to sea. 

 As they still are today, our local surf beaches were patrolled by life savers, distinctive in their red and yellow, the blast of their whistles and sometimes megaphones to make sure we swam between the flags.

I could see them on the shore.

I put my hand up to wave as we had been taught, but had a sinking feeling when I saw they weren't looking in my direction.  Trying not to panic, I yelled out for help and waved some more.

Luckily a surf board rider heard me and dragged me into shore. I threw myself on the sand shaking with relief.  My friends surrounded me - surprisingly, at first,  they thought I had done it on purpose to attract the attention of the cute guy.  Seeing how shaken I was they made me go back into the water immediately - so I wouldn't be afraid to in the future. Tough love!

This all flashed back the other day when I saw this group of kids having a swimming lesson at Manly beach.

These nippers will be used to waves and swimming in different conditions - not just the confines of a swimming pool.

They will learn how to handle a rip, without panicking. 

They will swim between the flags.

And they'll know not to swim alone.

I learnt my lesson.

Safe swimmimg!

What's this?

9.30am this morning.

This is what I love about my city.

You just don't know what's around the corner.

When eating seafood - fresh is best

The Sydney Fish Market is a feast for all of the senses.

Its bountiful displays are amazing to look at, the happy sounds of people chattering and birds squawking as they choose their meal, and although the smell of briny seafood can sometimes be confronting (it is a working fish market after all), the taste of the freshest fish and shellfish you can imagine more than makes up for that.

The fresh catch is brought in daily - and sold to the wholesale and retail market via a dutch auction very early in the morning. I've been once - it's worth a look.

This seafood is then sent all over Sydney and the rest of the state- everyday of the week.

  

But the freshest you can get, unless you catch it your self-  is sold at the Sydney Fish Market.

Located close to the city centre, we like to go there regularly to buy fresh prawns (shrimp) and fish.  Not just for special occasions,  it's worth the trip to buy enough for a couple of meals.

Prawns and spaghetti one night. Crumbed flathead, gently pan fried and served with salad the next. 

Look at these shiny fillets - we like snapper, flathead, salmon and tuna (sometimes).

An array of wholefish with their clear and glistening eyes a sign of freshness

M once brought home a coral trout big enough to feed ten and there was just the 2 of us that night. 

He's not allowed to go on his own anymore.

Octopi tentacles are everywhere- if you like that sort of thing...

Oysters are shucked on the spot

To be enjoyed with lemon or a variety of tasty toppings

It's a popular place for lunch - people buy takeway from one of the 8 or so fishmongers and eat down by the waters edge.  

But be careful of the seagulls- they will take the food from your hands!

Up early

Woke at 4am for some reason -  read  in bed for a while (luxury) and after a cup of coffee and a bit of toast with honey to get me going I headed out for my morning walk. 

This intense grey, almost indigo, sunrise lit the sky and shimmered across the bay

From the top of the ridge.

A short walk down the hill and the beach was mine

The black bay of harbour water wasn't tempting me this morning - 

although the temperature was measured at 20C/70F.

Won't be long before I'm swimming in the mornings.

By the time I got home the sky was blue - it looks like being a beautiful day.

Quintessential Sydney

The Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House is one of those places that to me represents the best of Sydney tourism and hospitality.
On the forecourt of the Opera House - it is truly a place that is relaxed, welcoming and festive- where locals and visitors can mingle.

Whenever I used to walk past on my longer walk down to the ferry from the office in the late afternoon it always reconfirmed my feeling that if that if there was one place I would send a visitor to Sydney for a relaxed sunset drinks - it would be the place.
Overlooking the harbour with a direct and closeup view of the bridge - it doesn't get better than this.

Sunday lunch there today with my cousins K and P was everything I had anticipated

We shared a few plates and a few glasses of cold white wine and enjoyed the great atmosphere.

Prosciutto thin crust piza

Popcorn shrimp/prawn

Chorizo and white beans with salsa verde

Our conversation covered our lives, shared memories and family stories.

The sun was gentle, the breeze soft and the air full of laughter.

A trip home on the ferry reminded me to take the time to look around and appreciate the beautiful city I live in

Beautiful Sydney.

Spring in Sydney

It's Saturday

 The sun is shining

and all around me these blooms are in full splendour.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

Bondi to Bronte

One of the most beautiful and famous walks in Sydney is the Bondi to Bronte coastwalk

From whichever end you start you walk along a path close to the edge of the ocean cliffs and with a panoramic view the length of the walk.

JR and I started this morning at Bondi and we agreed that we must have a swim next time at Bondi Icebergs. It got its name from the dedicated  people who swim year round , right through the winter months.

Doesn't this look tempting today?

We came across this surprising vision

Yes, we do have kangaroos in Sydney

and realised that Sculpture by the Sea was due to open tomorrow

Some of the installations that we saw 

A bamboo windfarm complete with wind sound effect

Mosaic pillars under ledges

Red hot chilli - on the rocks

Tidal foam created from plastic knives and forks- amazing

Fishing rods bent by their catch

We luckily got a head start and beat the crowds to see the sculptures, but this walk is a must do in Sydney at any time.

Doing lunch

Looking at the crowd today, in Sydney plenty of men and women find the time to do lunch.

I just find it hard to fit in with work.

When I can do it - I really enjoy it.

Friends BdR & JS and I headed to Pendolino, an Italian restaurant in the Strand Arcade, one of Sydney's oldest and most beautiful shopping centres.

Strand Arcade

It was a very dimly lit, intimate space. 

We started with this variety of bread - olive, walnut and white with three different oils. The Sanguinella was my favourite 

The special "lets do lunch" meal

was handmade sweet pea ravioli with gorgonzola cream and burnt butter

 A delicate pasta, fresh pea filling and creamy sauce - decadent!

We shared two desserts 

A nougat,  Ligurian honey and almond milk semifreddo with candied almond and crostoli

And a vanilla bean and goat curd bavarese with a textured strawberry salad

BdR has been known to take her holidays in October - just to go to as many Crave Sydney International Food Festival events as she can.

JS loves the pasta and ambience of Pendolino.

A great choice for lunch or dinner.  I'd go back again.