Tuesday 26 April 2016

Sydney Day Three

I was so anxious not to sleep in and miss my 8:15  appointment that I hardly slept all night. At 3 am I gave up and had some cereal and a cup of tea and watched some TV. I'm getting the feeling that once I retire I'm just going to get right into the groove lol. 

I was up at 5 and left at 7 for my appointment. I bought a coffee and sat staring at the building, just in case it tried to slip away again. A man came up and tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I knew where the US Consulate was. WTF!! I looked for the hidden cameras. After all my dramas finding it (and then keeping it in sight) over the last couple of days it was just a ridiculous twist to be asked if I knew where it was.

All went well with the visa with a bonus. For a 5 year extension on the visa using my Aussie passport it would cost $160. But because I have a British passport I get it for ten years....and for free!.. I felt they owed me something after all the stress and there it was :)

Had a second breakfast at the Lindt Cafe and then came across some of the Channel 7 Breakfast Show hosts doing a bit of a meet and greet in  Martin Place outside the studios.

Natalie Barr - she is soooo skinny

Beretts
Martin Place....if I never see you again it will be too soon.....you confuse me.

My feet were a bit sore after all my traipsing the last couple of days so I hopped on to a Hop on Hop off bus. Was a perfect day and I travelled for 4 hours all over Sydney - Bondi Beach, Rose Bay, Point Piper, Vaucluse....and yes...we came remarkably close to Martin Pl but veered off just in time. It was great to see all these places I've only heard about. It was a very pleasant day and I topped it off with another pub special early dinner.

The steak was cooked to perfection

On the way back I just HAD to stop in at this Apple shop. THREE floors...crazy....and no...I didn't buy anything....this time.

Apple Shop
 The shuttle picks me up at 6.55 am tomorrow to head to the airport for the return trip. I've had fun in Sydney....mostly.......I can mark it down as yet another city I've been lost in,

Sydney - Day two

The planned sleep in never happened - building works next door at a very early hour put an end to that so I made a cup of tea and some cereal and got back into bed and watched a bit of Crime Channel - for two hours lol.

I've decided a lie in while awake drinking tea and watching TV is much more enjoyable than a sleep in when you are in zzzzz land.

I got up determined to fulfil Mr Google's claim to 8 minutes to the Consulate. I blitzed it till I realised it was ten minutes and I'd walked past it again ....WTF - how can such a massive building remain so elusive.
US Consulate - the elusive destination

Martin Place is proving to be an enigma. The whole US  Consulate thing faded into the background (where it seems to continually be) when I tried to bank a cheque.  In all my Martin Pl wanderings I had noticed the beautiful old Commonwealth Bank Building and i was content that I knew where it was when I needed it. However - after my ten minute test run this morning I went to the bank. What a huge beautiful old building. Unfortunately it is now a dress shop. A mistake anyone could make - please see photo below.

Its big and that writing to the right of the flag says Commonwealth Bank.
Nowhere does it say dress shop!

The real bank was on the other side - right opposite - you guessed it -the bloody US Consulate. Sigh.

I wonder if having no sense of direction is a registered disability. Maybe I need a "Guide" dog with a little GPS on his collar.

I went for an enormous walk to Circular Quay and did a round of Sydney Harbour on a ferry. Beautiful warm balmy day. Then I did the obligatory Opera House visit. Looks quite different up close.

Sydney Harbour Bridge (a very literal name - I'm going to call it Syd)

Opera House
I was starving by the time I made my way back into the city so i found yet another Irish pub and did three rounds with this bucket of lamb shanks.



Lamb Shanks

I also came across this picture of PM Malcolm Turnbull hehehe

I walked over 10 km today and again yesterday so a bit of rest time in order - got to be up early to go find that bloody building by 8:15.  I think i better aim for 7:15 and if by luck I find it I'll have breakfast at the Lindt Cafe - I can see it from there :)

Monday 25 April 2016

Sydney Anzac Day 2016

Today I flew from Brisbane to Sydney for my interview in a couple of days at the US Consulate so I can obtain my 6 month Visa. Major stress out last night as I realised I had one vital piece of paper missing. When I went to the Consulate in 2011 for my last visa they were so strict. If there was anything not right you had to make another appointment - can be a month or so down the track. This would mean another flight to Sydney. Anyway - to cut a long story short - I had a panic attack and Lee located the form I needed and saved the day. Phew. Its just all been a bit much - selling all my stuff and half  moved out of my flat  and muscle pain in my arm at work again. Yikes.

Anyway today is Anzac Day and due to my early flight I missed the dawn service but we did have an Anzac treat on board.
Anzac Biscuit - yum
The flight was extremely bumpy and it was only my iron will and clenched butt that kept the bird in the sky. Was glad to land safely - although it felt like we had square wheels. Maybe it was being flown by a P Plater.

My plan was to locate the Consulate so I would know where to go on Wednesday - easier said than done. I chose my hotel as - according to Mr Google - it is an 8 minute walk to the Consulate and my appointment is at 8.15 in the morning.   Well if you add into the mix that roads were closed off for the Anzac Day Parade and the fact there were 12 million or so sailors, airmen and soldiers marching up and down everywhere and I have no sense of direction at the best of times and I know nothing of Sydney........! Two hours later I found the building I was looking for. Yes Mr Google, it IS in Martin Place but it is set back behind a plaza and cafe area and it looks like its on the next street Grrr.  Anyhoo....I now know - I think - how to get there but will try the 8 minute walk option tomorrow just in case :)

Wreaths In Martin Place Sydney


I stopped for lunch at the Lindt Cafe which is across the road from the Consulate. For my overseas friends, this was the site a year ago of a terrorist seige by a man who should have been already locked up years ago. The end result was a l6 hour seige with 18 hostages, the SWAT team finally went in and 2 hostages and the gunman died. All very sad and it was quite eerie seeing it today.

The Lindt Cafe
Gorgeous chocolates at the Lindt Cafe

I did sooo much walking finding the Consulate and wading shoulder deep in military personnel and was sleep deprived from late nights and early flight that I just  needed a nap and my room was now available at the hotel so had a few zzzz's

Struggled awake and went out in search of food and had  fish and chips in an Irish Pub around the corner. Again...yum!

Fish & Chips - didn't last long :)
I gave in to temptation and purchased a 12" Apple Mac for travelling and I am just loving it. It is an extravagance because less than a yer ago I got a Mac Pro but this little one is so light and so easy to travel with and I got it at a great price so the temptation was too strong. :)

My Mini Mac xx
Some of you know Jerome and he has joined me on this trip - here he is with his back pack. He is totally recovered from the broken hip he suffered in Iceland and tells me he is looking forward to his trip to the US - the land of his origin
Jerome