DAY ELEVEN (Sydney)

Before I forget to mention:13,686 steps today! A lifetime record!

We went in with Gill to her place of work, mainly so that JR could use an actual landline telephone (not a mobile phone) and organise moving her vast funds of NZ $$$ to Australia, so that we can spend some of them. This is proving quite complicated, and indeed, she probably got the wrong initial advice (from the bank) and shouldn't need to move it, but just spend it here. Anyway, all sorted.

We then took the train into town, and hopped off at the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) which is a spectacular shopping centre set in a old ornate building, then we walked towards a Hyde Park. Many decades ago, we had gone in to the Army `barracks and had a snack in an outdoor cafe. I had ricotta cheese for the first time and it was love at first bite. We wanted to go back and check it out.

As we came in the gate, a staff member came striding towards us, shouting, 'What took you so long? We've been waiting for you!' So funny. And typical of the good humour most Aussies have.

The barracks are now an interactive display of the history of Australia, or at least of the convicts who first came out here and were held in terrible conditions and made to work to start ot build the new town of Sydney. We had headphones which automatically came on as you entered the room or even the space of the item. Most graphic were the sleeping rooms, with rows upon rows of hammocks, with coughing and spluttering sound effects. It was the best historical exhibition of its kind we've seen. In the last room were life sized holographs of various people telling how they were connected to the convicts, or to the settlers, or the Aborigine people who were dispossessed.

From there we walked across the park and came to the spectacular brand new Art Gallery, dug down into the hillside. What an amazing building. I had to hand in my umbrella as it was (could have been) a 'dangerous instrument'. We wandered around for an hour or so, including having lunch. As usual, there were some spectacular items, some interesting ones, and some just plain weird.

And, joy of joys, when we were ready to come home, the only bus was one which took us right back home! Tap on and then off (ferries, buses, trains) with your card or phone. Easy peasy.

A brief rest, then we walked round to a local Japanese restaurant, a favourite of Gill's for a wonderful meal. It was such a lovely evening, we stopped at the pub and shared a bottle of 'Bunnamagoo' Cuvée. It's most pleasant wandering round the wee streets of an evening (25°) admiring all the cute wee houses. 

Forgot to mention... JR slammed her front door shut in the car, but my hand was on the frame, helping me clambour in. Now, you'd think - broken fingers, or at the very least great pain. But no. Not a scrape. These modern cars have so much soft rubber sealing around, that there was no damage at all. Impressive.

Another grand day in this fabulous city...