Darling Harbour is - well - Darling!

I asked a security worker where the bus stop to get to Darling Harbour was.  He told me it was just as far to walk to Darling Harbour itself as to walk to the bus stop for it, and pointed.  "Just across the road and through them trees," he said.  So, off I go.  I mean, it couldn't be too bad.  It's in Pyrmont, just like the fish market.  This is where I first noticed all of the benches along the street.  It really was only a few blocks (6 if I counted right), but it was all uphill.  With several stops to rest and a few hits of the inhaler, I finally made it to the Pyrmont Bridge, a footbridge going over Darling Harbour.

Darling Harbour is lovely with its brick pavers throughout.

There are loads of things to do in there.  There are nice restaurants and cafes with indoor and outdoor seating,

the International Convention Center,

and beautiful fountains to look at or play in.

Each side of the harbour has a major destination aside from the eateries and ambiance.  On the Pyrmont side, it is the Australian National Maritime Museum.  This is a huge museum that extends into the harbour with a lighthouse, a submarine, and many other things.  Coming from the fish market, the museum takes up the entire harbour left of the Pyrmont Bridge.

With prices ranging from free (regular exhibits inside) to $32 AUD (all shows, exhibits, and vessels), it's a really good deal!  I thought about going back to see it, but I ran out of time.

On the other side of the harbour, is the Sea Life Aquarium, the WILD zoo, and the wax museum.  The aquarium was my chosen destination in Darling Harbour, and it didn't disappoint, even though it was a school holiday, and the place was PACKED!

This sawfish was giving the evil stare to all who came under the tunnel!

The aquarium was very well laid out, with plenty of dark spaces and corals and such for the fish and other animals to hide and get some alone time if they wanted.  Obviously, it had the now-requisite glass tunnels.  There were two exhibits that were highlighted to me.  It may be because of my fondness of the particular animals or it may be that they were more than just static displays.

For those of you who know me, you know I love manatee.  In fact, still the best Christmas present I ever got was when Chrissy got us a package to swim with the manatee in the Crystal River in Florida one year.  Manatee do not live in the South Pacific, but they do have a cousin down under, the duodong.  The resident at the Sea Life Aquarium is Pig.  He was rescued from Queensland when he was found separated from his mother and was hand raised until he was old enough to be released back into the wild.  When he was found washed ashore again later, the decision was made that he likely could not survive in the wild, so releasing him was no longer an option.  He has such a sweet face with a more rounded, less pronounced snout than the manatee!  And he seems to really enjoy playing fetch!

I spent a significant period of time watching Pig, even after the keeper talk and play time was over.  He was just so adorable!  I never imagined this exhibit would so mesmerize me, but it did!

The other highlight was the penguins.  I love penguins and I love boats, and the Sydney aquarium combines them both.  I was definitely hyped for this one!  As I said, it was a school holiday, so I had to stand in line for it.  While there weren't any chairs for me to rest in, I was able to lean myself up against the wall, and the folks behind me would let me walk along the side and come back when I started hurting from standing so long.

When it's your turn to board, you enter a separate room, which acts as a cold lock.  These are Antarctic penguins (King and Gentoo), so they need the air to be cold.  They do offer coats for you, but they also have blankets on the boat.  Once everything is settled in the cold room, they open the other door and board you onto inflatable rafts, big enough to hold 4 or 5 people at once, put the blanket on your lap, and you start floating down the lazy river to the penguin habitats.  It's dark in the beginning.  Then you go through some mist, coming out by the pools with penguins swimming in them.  The Gentoo have various places where they are nesting.  (Kings don't nest.)  They all choose favored rocks and line their nest areas, sometimes fighting over the rocks.  It was an exceptional experience, and if there hadn't been such a line, I probably would have done it more than once!

After leaving the Aquarium, I picked up a late lunch and headed toward Sydney to catch the bus back toward Woolloomooloo, the part of town where my Airbnb was.   Leaving the harbor on the Sydney side of the Pyrmont Bridge, I turned to see the welcome sign for Darling Harbour.

I wanted to pick up some food before heading home, and for some reason, Google Maps was telling me that I couldn't ride the bus back to the stop right outside where I was staying, so I was going to have to walk a piece.  Later, I learned Google Maps was lying, but though I didn't think it made sense, I was naive and trusting at this point.  Google Maps said I had to walk to Woolloomooloo from King's Cross.  Again, I was thankful for the benches in Sydney, but they grew pretty sparse as I was walking through Potts Point, not always even having a bench at the bus stops.  Imagine my frustration when Google sent me down the Butler Stairs!  Sydney loves putting stairs like this up!  These were only the first set I encountered during this trip!

When I got to the market to pick up some food, I had to sit on a bench for a significant period of time, catching my breath and hitting the inhaler again.  By the time I got home (my Airbnb), I was exhausted, but it was a wonderful day!  I took some time to download my pictures and check in with my family.  Then, a sandwich, crisps (potato chips), soda, Tim Tam, and a shower, and off to bed I went!  Tomorrow is another full day!

Fish for Breakfast!

Normally, I wouldn't call it sleeping in, but sleeping until 8:00 a.m. sure felt like it!  Not having had anything of substance for dinner, I was hungry.  So, I went out to the common area where the hostel provided pancakes and toppings for breakfast.  They were very good on my empty belly!  After some pancakes and tea (and washing my dishes, of course) I got dressed and ready to go.  I had arranged for my transport from the hostel to the airport the night before, so it was just a matter of waiting . . . and waiting . . . and the girls at the desk assuring me that I hadn't missed it and he would be along soon . . . and waiting . . .  and waiting until the girls at the desk agreed that they should probably check on it.  He was there within just a few minutes and refused payment since he forgot to stop and pick me up.  No worries, though.  I made it to the airport with plenty of time to grab a Whopper for lunch at Hungry Jack before boarding the flight back to Sydney.

Upon arrival, I picked up a sandwich for later and took a taxi to my Airbnb.  It was rush hour, so it cost about double what it normally would have, what with increased toll charges and traffic delays.  But it was a nice overview of the city, and I've paid more for less distance!  My hostess was very sweet.  She had an Opal (subway) card she passed from guest to guest for using the public transportation (which is really awesome in Sydney).  She also had a handful of brochures for different free or cheap tours of things in the area, and gives her guests a package of Tim Tams.  It was a very nice room with a large bathroom and a really comfortable bed!  I did a load of laundry, since I was out of clothes and settled in for the evening.  I learned to use the Opal card and I learned that Google Maps will walk you, step by step, through using public transportation in different cities!  All this time, I thought Chrissy was just magic at reading the public transport boards in all different languages!  Now, I know her secret!  After a nice, hot shower, I slept better that night than I had since leaving home, knowing there was nothing scheduled that I had to wake up at a certain time for.  Most everything in Sydney was to be done at my leisure!

Even though I didn't set my alarm, I woke relatively early, well rested, and ready to get started.  I decided to start by taking the bus to the furthest destination in the city that I was planning to see - the fish market.  Wouldn't be the first time I had fish for breakfast!  Chrissy and I had breakfast at the Tokyo Fish Market when we went to Japan a few years ago.  Besides, I have breakfast for dinner a lot.  Why not dinner for breakfast?

Across from the bus stop closest to my Airbnb was a Navy yard with a ship in dock.  There is a fence around it and a guard shack at the entrance, but it was definitely interesting seeing an active military installation that wasn't highly fortified!

The Sydney Fish Market is the third largest fish market in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, in terms of volume.  In terms of variety of seafood sold, it is the second largest fish market in the world.  It's on Blackwattel Bay in Pyrmont.

Around the parking lot, there were multiple restaurants, including this one that was off to itself, a little out of place.  Vic's sold kangaroo, emu, and many other exotic meats.  They had a butcher shop and a restaurant, side by side, but they were closed that early.

These two guys were going around talking to people.  "Could you help a brother out, please?"

Once inside, the variety was easy to see!

And this doesn't count the prepared foods!

Or the deserts!

This guy did some serious oyster shucking!



 I wasn't the only one having fish for breakfast.

I settled on a combo platter with a few things I had never tasted before.  The Oyster Kilpatrick was my favorite!

It was all delicious, but instead of eating inside like so many others, of course I had to eat by the water.

I had tried to get a tour of the auction floor, but they were booked for the time I was there, and unless you're escorted, the auction floor is supposedly off limits.  After breakfast, I needed to use the bathroom, so I asked where it was.  The lady directed me behind the plastic strip doors, where I encountered none other than the auction floor.  There were several signs prohibiting pictures, and there were some people coming in and out, so I didn't take much time getting these shots off.  Sorry they're so blurry!

After this, I headed out for Darling Harbour.

Final Hours on the Great Barrier Reef

The third reef was the same as the first.  We were back at Saxon Reef Pyramids.  Soon after anchoring, it was time for our next water session.  During the transit time, those of us that were leaving, moved our stuff to the transit room so the new folks could be checked into their rooms.  The new folks boarded while we were in the water.

My guide was Terrence again.  He said he usually didn't like escorting snorkelers, but he had never seen somebody who had the kind of trouble I did with the mask and breathing who also so clearly thoroughly enjoyed the time in the water.  So, out we went again.  It kept taking me less and less time to get settled in my mask and the water, and each time was more enjoyable.  Lots of awesome and beautiful reef.

Bubbles from the divers below!

And this time, the action camera both worked and was properly aimed.  I did learn that with it mounted on the mask, the waves went right across the lens making the video awful every few minutes.  I think I'll use the chest strap the next time.  I clipped a short piece that doesn't have that problem.  Of course, my hand and the other camera seem to be what the action camera is focusing on.



There was one more water session before time to get ready to go, but I was exhausted.  Plus my left arm was starting to ache.  So, I opted out of the last one, took a shower, and put on my street clothes.

We had yet another scrumptious meal.  With the newbies aboard and my group not yet departed, the dining room was a bit crowded.

I also got a shot with all of my escorts and Oscar, who made sure I had someone scheduled to be with me.  It was impossible to get them all at once, but I got most of them in the group shot, and then got a separate shot of me and Chantal.  This one is Mickie, Oscar, me, Nathan, and Terrence.

And here is me and Chantal.

After lunch, we transferred back to the Reef Experience, where we were treated to wine, cheese, and biscuits (crackers) on the way back to shore in Cairns.  The shuttle took me back to the Mad Monkey, where I repacked my bags for my flight back to Sydney and collapsed.  Far too exhausted to find anything other than vending machine snacks for dinner, since the grill was closed that night.