Florida Coalcracker Chronicles: 5 - Sunday in Sidney at Bondi Beach and an Aussie Football Stadium

Sunday, August 28, 2022

5 - Sunday in Sidney at Bondi Beach and an Aussie Football Stadium

We caught a bus to Bondi Beach
Just east of downtown Sydney.

This is a brand new soccer -
rugby - Aussie rules football - stadium

The first few days of an east-west trip is always adjusting to the time zone. Our grandson Max is only 6 years old - and last July while staying at his Paris apartment he said - are you adjusted to the time zone yet? It seems the older you get - the harder it is to adjust. Last night I went to bed at 4 PM - and woke up wide awake at 2 AM.

At 6:30 AM - we went to the VIP room to have our breakfast. What a beautiful selection of food and drinks. I guess we are the only Americans here - because there was only one other customer there.

Yesterday we visited the Bondi Beach and also a new Australian Football stadium. The stadium is brand spanking new - and they are welcoming the public with a good look. Sydney has a wonderful light rail and bus system. No need to buy a ticket - you just hit the reader with your credit card or phone - it costs one USA dollar - $1.50 Aussie dollar.

The weather reached a perfect 70 - with sun and breeze. It is like March back home - the start of their spring. The ocean was 65 - with plenty of surfers in it - in their black wet suits.

We will spend one more night here in Sydney - Monday night - then we take the train toward Canberra. On the way we will stop at Bowral half way to the capital. It is about 2000 feet above sea level - which will make it about 8 degrees cooler. In the summer - it is a haven of the well-heeled - a relief from the wild streets of this 5 million peopled city.

A favorite I am looking forward is to see the home of Sir Donald Bradman. He is considered the world's greatest cricketer. He was only 5-7 - but in the eyes of Australia - he is Ty Cobb - Babe Ruth - Wilt Chamberlain - and Jimmy Brown all in one. His wins and statistics are legendary. One time his team sailed to England and toured the island winning 27 games in a row - on a road tour - over their best professional teams. Read Wikipedia about Donald Bradman.

We love the city of Sydney - but are looking forward to being adjusted and living in our stable apartment in Canberra. We will be within walking distance of their Capitol and the Australian National Library. While staying here 45 days - Lulu will be teaching her two online graduate classes for FSU. Because of the 14 hour time difference - instead of nighttime classes - here classes will be right after breakfast. That is Lulu's prime working time. Lulu will be doing research at the national library.

We have not seen a lot of cars - we have gone everywhere on the bus and light rail. There are a few basic brands of cars made there - like the Ford and the Holden. German cars and Asian cars fill the bill.