A Happy New Year in Sydney

Sydney - what can I say? It's a great city! It's busy but feels strangely relaxed with it. We've been here for 2 weeks now, although it does feel longer than that and in that time we've managed to secure ourselves an apartment for 5 weeks.

It has been strange not being at home over Christmas - Australias christmas is completely different to that at home. On Christmas Eve we wanted to do something festive so we headed to Darling Harbour - we read that there was a huge tree made up of lights with Carol Singers singing by it. And then there were fireworks at 9pm

After the fireworks we left the harbour with thousands of others and headed back to the hostel. At St Marys Cathedral there were more crowds as there was a light display on the cathedral itself. Was pretty amazing how they managed to line up the images of the projection with the architecture of the building.

Christmas Day and it's a scorcher. We get up at 10am and open our presents and then get ready for the beach. We walk to Elizabeth Street and jump on the 373 bus to Coogee Beach.
When we get there, it's heaving - there are so many people but still space for 2 bums on the sand. We set ourselves down and, to our surprise, we sit next to Sam Thompson, a guy who lives in Crawley Down. What was the likelihood of that!

Bondi Police get in the festive spirit!

We relaxed in the sun for a while before deciding to walk to Bondi Beach along the 5km coastal path, taking us through all the little coves and beaches. Once we got to Bondi we jumped on the bus to take us back to the City and we did ourselves a Christmas Dinner - Roast Chicken, stuffing, potatoes, veg and gravy. Then Yule log for dessert.

We spend the evening Skyping everyone at home.

Between Christmas and New Year we do a few things - we find an apartment on Gumtree.com.au and put a deposit down on it with the idea of moving in on the 2nd January. We get on the Job hunt too - but no luck yet.

Wednesday 28th we went up the SkyTower Eye to have dinner - from Dad and Liz for christmas. It was a really nice evening - you sit in the revolving restaurant at the top and you get to see the whole of Sydney. The food was amazing too - we both walked out feeling extremely full up!!

On Thursday we are out looking for Job agencies again - but all we can find are Flight Centres - we see this as an Omen so pop in. By the end of the day we've decided to book flights out of Sydney and continue travelling. So the new plan - be in Sydney until the 8th February and then fly to Fiji for 2 weeks and then on to New Zealands South Island. We will continue to try and find work for the few weeks we are in the apartment.

We manage to see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and enjoy the glorious weather - we grab a beer in the sun in the Opera Bar.

And for New Years Eve - spectacular! We are up at 8am and leave for Mrs MacQuaries Point at 8.30am to join the queues. Our hostel is a 2 minute walk so we are soon at the back of the queue of around 4,000 people - in no time there are thousands of people behind us. It's amazing how early people actually get up to get a good seat!

We manage to set inside the park and set up by 12:30 - we have a fairly decent view of the Bridge and the Opera House through the trees. I'm surprised by the sheer number of boats that all around the harbour!

We brought a pretty large picnic so we don't go hungry. We keep ourselves entertained until 9pm when the family fireworks start.
At Midnight the New Years Eve spectacle begins - the fireworks are awesome. I have never seen so many fireworks go off!! It is definitely a good way to bring in the new year!

 New Years Day we chilled out with Jess and Will, a couple who were sharing our dorm with us. We venture out around 4pm and get The Big Box from Pizza Hut, eating it in Hyde Park.

The next day Bex and I get our stuff together and move into the apartment in Darling Harbour. Our room - the master bedroom with an ensuite and balcony, has been left in quite a dirty state. We get on and clean it from top to bottom - Becky doing most of it! We head out and buy sheets for the bed and, already, it feels homely. Housemates are friendly too!

Now we just need to find a job!