SYDNEY!!! Finally... I know :)

So since I am going to New Zealand tomorrow I figured I better get Sydney out of the way or my writing is REALLY going to back up. It was so amazing to show Steph and Anna around my new home. I really enjoyed seeing them get excited about the things I got excited about when I first got here. I know that I am so lucky to be briefly living in such an amazing place and I am reminded of my good fortune through them.

Our first full day in Sydney started with a trip to Coles (supermarket) for snacks and then to a bakery for breakfast. Hot cinnamon-y roll in hand we began to walk from Kings Cross to the botanical gardens. We walked through the gardens to get to the Opera house and then towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We met up with my friend Miles (from middle school) and traipsed down to the Sydney Fish Market. We were hot, sweaty and tired but quickly became revitalized as we looked around at all the amazing seafood on ice. I think seafood is definitely one of my weaknesses and was the perfect pick me up! Next, we headed to Darling Harbour to walk around and enjoy the $3.50 happy hour drinks. Darling Harbour is just one of the amazing spots in Sydney. Miles says that ¼ of Australians live in this city. It is HUGE and composed of many little pocket communities that change constantly as you walk around the streets.

Anna and Steph were amazing travel companions. We all had the same budgetary concerns and were happy to walk everywhere! Our constant walking led us to early nights and early mornings. My perfect schedule ;)

Second day we headed to Manly beach on a ferry that left from the rocks, this really nice area with museums and outdoor markets. After a puttering 30 minute ride we ended up at Manly beach. We were pretty exhausted from the day before so we relaxed on the beach, got up to find food, relaxed some more, found some ice cream, relaxed some more… repeat :) On the way home we watched loads of sail boats cruise around the bay and then had an amazing last dinner at this restaurant overlooking the water in Darling Harbour. Dessert was another 50 cent soft serve cone from McDonalds while we watched fire works celebrate the end of our amazing trip. We headed to the opera house in order to see it lit up where we were treated with another fire works show over the opera house. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend! I miss Steph and Anna tremendously but had an INCREDIBLE time with them!

Ps. I am sorry for this hasty blog. I know it is not top quality but quantity over quality is sometimes necessary ;)