So let me start by saying that I wrote this entire post and then somehow lost it :(. Its also late because internet access has been limited. Ugh.
On this day I slept in a bit in light of the fact that I didn't get in from the fire alarm till 230am. I just puttered around packing up my stuff for a bit. I also had th the chance to Skype with my sis-in-law Jodi and my beautiful niece Isla which was nice cause I hadn't been able to do that yet. The time change was 18 hrs ( more than I originally realized) which made coordinating a Skype more tricky. Isla was just as cute as ever and growing like a weed ;).
After that I took a walk down the street to grab a muffin for bfast and then back to the hostel to collect my things. I took an airport bus to the airport that was only $16 for the almost 1hr ride.
The check-in and flight were pretty uneventful. My flight departed for Sydney at 1pm. The plane was new and quite fancy and I was served a nice hot meal. The flight was 3 and 1/2 hrs long but the time went back 2hrs so I arrived in Sydney at about 2:30pm.
I took a shuttle to my hotel. I had to wait almost an hour but it cost $15 rather than about $50 for a cab. I arrived at my hotel (Cambridge Hotel) at about 4:15pm. The hotel room was nice and big...I had two beds and a little dining nook. I basically dropped off my big bag and then headed out. I walked down the main street which is George St. It was lively. I stopped at the supermarket to get some snacks and buy an Australian SIM card. Unfortunately after trying for about 45 min I still could not unlock my phone so that the SIM card worked. The pin Koodo gave me wouldn't work. And of course I had no way to contact them without internet/phone. Frustrated!!!
I walked up the street all the way to the Sydney Harbour bridge which was the sight of my next adventure...Bridge Climb. This is where you climb up on top of the brige all the way to the middle (centre of the harbour) and back. My climb was booked for 6:55. They basically ran climbs every 5min from what I could tell and the whole set-up process was like a well-oiled machine. First they took us into a room where I had to sign my life away and take a breathalyzer even before I could go! Then they fit us with jumpsuits and a buch of things (waist harness, hat, fleece jacket, headlamp, radio/headset, bandana) all which were attached to us or our suit.
The climb process took almost 3 and 1/2 hrs in total but that included everything. It was not techical or difficult. There were ladders to get to the top of the bridge arch but then it was small steps and platforms all the way to the centre point. They took pictures of us at four points along the way (we weren't allowed cameras). The views were spectacular. It was light out at first but then we saw the sun set from above. You could see all over Sydney and had amazing views of the Opera House.
I finished at about 10:20 pm. I then bought photos which were highway robbery ($36 for the first and $10 for each additional on USB!). Oh well, I guess you only live once.
I then walked almost one hour back to my hotel. I was pooped on the walk but didn't want to fork out more money for a ride and I got to take some nice night shots of Sydney. George St. was hopping and loud!
I got to the hotel at almost midnight (feelkng like 2am). I dropped my stuff and called it a day.
T
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