Sydney (Happy Birthday to me)

We have been in Sydney for 24 hours. We definitely both love it. It feels a bit like Europe, but it isn't. It is big yet small...it has the big city feel like NYC but it isn't overwhelming and certainly not as crowded population wise. The train system is efficient and easy and you can get to one of the best beaches in the world by train in about 15 minutes. Seriously...I wish I was spending more time here. Loving it!!!

Yesterday was quite a gloomy day with a little bit of rain (it was also a bit chilly) so we didn't get to spend all day on Bondi Beach as planned, but we did get to check it out. I definitely see why people love it. Pretty sand and water surrounded by cool buildings. Nice vibe. It was incredibly easy to get out to, as well.

Bondi Beach... Boo hoo for rain

When we got into the city we had lunch at a food court type place with a wonderful department store with make-up counters everywhere. I don't know what to say...I am a city girl and I like the finer things in life. I am not sure how this happened...I wasn't brought up this way. But when I lived in NYC (no matter how shallow this sounds), if I was having a bad day and just needed to get out of the office I walked over to Saks on 5th. Just walking around the Dior, Lancome, etc. counters made me happy. I really don't know what it is...especially because I am not a shopaholic per se. I have great discipline.

Anyway, it isn't like I am not having a great time in Australia because I am, but for some reason when I happened upon these make-up counters I got the flutter in my heart. I forgot all about needing to eat and Tim had to drag me down to the food court. But as life would have it, I certainly made my way back there. Since it was close to my birthday, and I needed to stock up, I had a little visit to the Channel counter. Andrea (from Hungary) did my make-up, and I walked out of there ready for an evening on the town. I got a new make-up bag and new eye shadow. I can't help it but I love it. Wow - I sound shallow, but I am not...I swear. I just like make-up.

Bondi Beach Grafitti

View from our hotel room

Ok, so Tim and I went out for a very nice dinner last night to celebrate my birthday (we had to celebrate last night because we are on a 6:20 p.m. flight to New Zealand tonight). We went to Wolfie's (http://www.wolfiesgrill.com.au/home.asp). It was a cute restaurant in one of the best spots to get a great view of the city. On my right was the Sydney Opera House and on my left was the Sydney Harbour Bridge (which as luck would have it we can't climb because it is about $200 AUD a person to climb, and we can't just justify that spend when we got a fab view flying in). Seriously beautiful view. Tim had kangaroo and crocodile, and I had a filet. We shared, of course, and we both loved all of it.

A nice couple sitting next to us recognized our accent and asked us how we liked Sydney so far. We chatted it up with them for awhile. They were celebrating a birthday as well. They had been in NYC a few years ago and couldn't stop talking about how much they loved it.

Sydney Harbour at Night

So today we are heading off for a walk around the harbour and then to the aquarium where we can see some serious crocs and sharks - grrr! Can't wait.

Oh, btw, check out the yacht below. Our waiter last night at Wolfie's told us they had been parked in the harbour since December 16. Guess how much it costs to park your boat there...um yea a whopping $8k a day. It is a rich British dude - 71 with a 24 year old wife. HA!




Off to see the crocs and sharks - wahoo!