Day 2 - Sydney and Bondi Beach

We started the day with parkrun at Pirrama Park, where there are views of the Sydney Harbour and Anzac bridges.  We got there about 45 mins early so had a walk around the park.  Paul did his 1st ever parkrun completing it in just over 52 minutes.

Pirrama Park 

Anzac Bridge 

Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Pirrama Park

Black Faced Cormorant

They didnt have a pop up sign so 
used the frame instead

Paul crosses the line at 52:38

Pirrama parkrun 


We got back to the hotel and had breakfast.  It has been quite overcast all day with the odd spot of rain. We first went to the indoor market which is very much a tourist markets with almost all stalls selling souvenirs or clothing.  There were a few Chinese ladies doing massages.  Paul had a neck and shoulder massage which I think he deserved after his efforts earlier.

Indoor market


We then went to Chinatown.  It is quite a small area, just in one street, and almost all shops were eating places.  Some of the dishes on offer sounded disgusting.  We then made our way down to the Town Hall where there was some sort of demonstration going on.  It was raining quite hard now.  There were a lot of police around so we first had a look around a Woolworths. Which is nothing like the stores we used to have and then moved away and into the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) indoor shopping centre where we had a coffee.

 

Queen Victoria Building

Town Hall

Chinatown gate

We then decided to catch the bus to Bondi Beach.  I had been told before by colleagues from Sydney that it was not a nice place but wanted to see for myself.   The beach is huge and all sand.  The tide doesnt come in or go out far and the waves are quite big so that is why it is one of the best surfing places.  There were a lot of people surfing.  We walked along the prom and back before going for a beer.  Although the temperature signs said it was 25C it felt much cooler and I kept a jacket on for most of the time.  On the odd occasions that the sun made an appearance, it felt very warm.  

Bondi Beach looking north

Beach Volleyball

Mural tribute to local people killed in the 
Bali bombing of 2012

Bondi Beach promenade

Full view of Bondi Beach from the South

Common Myna birds

We started feeling very tired mid afternoon so came back to the hotel for a rest.  As we were walking along a busy street near the hotel we saw an Australian White Ibis on the pavement before it flew up onto some railings.  They are nicknamed 'Bin Chickens'

White Ibis

White Ibis

We both fell asleep for a couple of hours before getting something to eat and another early night.

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