Back to Sydney

Well, the last ship's sheet telling us independents could disembark anytime after 4am was overly optimistic. The previous information was always 7am arrival and that was correct. We were up around 6am to 6:30am and while we were close, the ship was still moving. We docked right at the White Bay Cruise Terminal building this time. We docked on the port side. It made for a much longer walk this time between the ship and the Capt. Cook Ferry.

We had breakfast around 7am and we were out of the cabin before 8am as instructed. We didn't linger aboard but walked on off even though we had no rush to reach a hotel that we can't check into before 2pm. The first ferry run was scheduled for 8:15am today and we were on it. There were exactly 4 passengers! At $9pp, the price is right and it is quick. Ongoing construction had removed the Wynyard Walk signage, so even though we knew where we should be going we walked about a block out of our way finding the way. Again, we were in no hurry. We bought 2 one way tickets for a 2 stop ride for $4.10 pp. We picked a platform by proximity since almost all the trains would go to Central Station. We are staying at the Rendezvous Studio Hotel across the street from Central Station. We picked it based on Central Station is where our Great Southern Rail train will depart on Wednesday.

Today's forecast rain did not appear until after sunset. That was good news. Still after we found our way to the hotel and dropped our luggage somehow we were so exhausted we just walked a quiet place to sit. No such luck. We sat in the lobby while Clay called AAT Kings to finalize our pickup time and place for our all day tour tomorrow. We walked out to scout that since we have to be there at 6:50am tomorrow. We stopped at a place called Bread Top. On the map, Chinatown is several blocks away. In reality, we are in it. We enjoyed the buns though and that was our 10:30am lunch. Clay picked Paddy's Markets since it was down our street about 3 blocks. After we had seen where we had to go in the morning, we turned around and walked the other way. We walked all the stalls on the Markets ground floor and had just gone upstairs to sit with a cold drink when we got the email saying our room was ready early. Hurray! We walked back a different way scouting for someplace for dinner. We didn't find anything but really fast food Asian food except a Belgian hot chocolate café weirdly enough. We did find a Woolworth's though. We found our room did have a small fridge so we came back later with some breakfast supplies. There is tea/coffee making stuff in the room too. So we're set for one meal everyday. This is the reason people cruise. No decisions to make, no meals to find, etc.

We were glad to get in the room before mid-afternoon. So glad that we went up and turned on the A/C and laid on the bed and fell asleep. Hopefully, we'll get another rain free day to sightsee. If not, after researching it still seems we did everything here we wanted to do in 2006. We'll see what happens on Tuesday.

We went out around 2 to 3pm to Woolworth's so we wouldn't be down there after dark. There is a large homeless population around here. They may not be a threat, but no reason to take a chance. We went to a Mad Mex a few doors from the morning's bun place. It was the only non-Asian food we could find nearby. I have no idea what we'll do the next 2 nights. Especially since I think we get in tomorrow after 6:30pm. We'll see.

The weather forecast is looking less gloomy tonight as it thunderstorms. It will be colder and less rainy now. The way the forecast keeps changing, I guess we'll find out as it happens. Fingers crossed for good weather or at least no rain while we're out.

I don't think Clay has any photos to post.