After taking in plenty of Sydney's urban city activities the family went to the beach. It happened to be a very stormy day so we were mostly alone on the beach save the surfing crowd but they kept there distance out in the "rough as guts" waves. It turned out to be one of those dramatic overcast days, cold and drizzly, so the bathing suits we packed along with our dreams of taking a dip in one of Sydney's seawater rock pools will have to wait until our next visit. Rock Pools or Sea Pools are chlorine-free saltwater pools that sit between the rocky cliffs and the ocean breakers, the walls of the pool fort a sort of rock jetty. And apparantly Sydney beaches are dotted with these pools that the locals use as a nice alternative to the gusty swells of the ocean. I read that the oldest of the pools was built using convict muscle from Oz's days as a penal colony, and that the pools were to be enjoyed by soldiers, sailors, hospital inmates and the convicts themselves who were compelled to take a salty "rock bath" on sanitary grounds. We walked the beach and Ingrid pointed at every bird, a sport that has become a favorite pastime of hers and then just as it began to pour down rain we ducked into a restaurant called Icebergs. We had a terrific lunch and enjoyed the view from our cliff side retreat overlooking the mile long curve of Bondi's golden sand.
Though it was a far cry from the photos I have seen of Bondi Beach with Australians celebrating their sunny summer Christmas Day in Santa Claus caps and string bikinis or with small Christmas trees at the edge of their beach towel, maybe next year we will join them. In Hong Kong we also get the Australia Network on TV where "Bondi Rescue" is a favorite reality show. Its like Baywatch, but 'real.' But the poor weather kept the camera crews indoors and the beachgoers at home. Can't complain, a vacant beach is my kind of beach.
2 comments:
Hi Bob, Lizzie, and Ingrid, I really enjoy your blog but this is the first time I have seen where I can post a comment. I'm not really sure why I missed it before. Anyway, it looks like you are having a great time and Ingrid sure is a terrific traveler. Isn't Sydney wonderful? When we were there for Aaron's wedding, we went to Cronulla which is where he spent some growing up years. There were lots of Sea Pools and they were all packed with swimmers. They didn't have them up north in Queensland where Nicole lived but there were areas to swim that were roped off and netted to keep the jellyfish out. In Port Douglas, we actually saw bottles of vinegar on the beach for people to use if they got stung! Anyway, I can see that Ingrid is growing and what a doll she is!! Love to all of you, Aunt Nina
Hello to your beautiful family,
I found your pictures in the NEXT BLOG and wish you all the best for the holiday season. We are in Portland, Oregon, USA, where we spent the day polishing our tile floors! I'm just glad all the kids are grown and the grandkids come here occasionally. We've been to Hong Kong three times, but best of all, we're going to Sydney, Australia next October 2009. Although we have done much travel, I told my husband (who will be 75 near year) that I want to go "down under" in my 70th year, and, by golly, it's going to happen! We haven't even begun to think about it, but we will be staying at the Hilton Hotel and will be there for two full weeks.
Before that happens, we'll spend the next few weeks in California, and other vacations are planned for Mexico, Utah, Lake Tahoe (California again) and then Australia comes up. Both of us worked for a total of more than 100 years, so please don't be too jealous of us!
We're lucky to be young and healthy enough to travel and we have belonged to the Hilton Grand Vacations Club since 2001. After being married for almost 37 years, we're still going strong.
I loved your photos of little Ingrid and the two of you as well.
We are lucky to live in the same town as my 40 year old daughter and her doctor husband (two grandkids now in elementary school). Our son is going to be 39 years old and he lives near Salt Lake City, with two sons of his own.
Just wanted you to know that someone is reading your blog!
Warm regards from Grandpa Al and Grandma Ellen in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Post a Comment