My new motto: when in doubt, hire a taxi. Yes, it costs money, sometimes ALOT of money, but it is so much more efficient. And how often are you going to be in Sydney anyways?

Today is my last day in Sydney and it is finally sunny again, after being cloudy cold and rainy for the last two. I always just feel like staying in when it rains (or does it rain because I feel like staying in?) and today, when I felt like getting in some last minute sight-seeing, the sun defied the weatherforecaster and shone brightly. I still had several things I wanted to see and they were scattered around town. Now, I'm a fast walker, but everyone has their limitations. Enter.... the cab, complete with knowledgeable and talkative driver.

We first drove to Mrs. Macguire's Chair, which I told you I wanted to see in the morning before I left. Well, mission accomplished! I got several pictures of the money shot (Opera House on the left, Harbor Bridge on the right, water in front, tree foilage hanging down from above, light from behind me - gorgeous! It is film, but perhaps when I return home I can scan it and show you.), and then we drove through Woolloomooloo, a region in Sydney (and perhaps my favorite thing to say since "gobsmacked"). Lovely buildings made of the pinkish Sydney sandstone, and some old victorians with fancy flowered iron railings on the verandas that reminded me of New Orleans. We took the tunnel under the harbor and then stopped under the bridge to take some photos from that angle. After crossing the bride (I've been on Harbor Bridge!) we drove to Bondi, which is just outside the city. Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye, not Bon-dee like I had before) is a gorgeous beach with such clear turquoise and teal water. The beach itself is wide, gently curving and huge. Gorgeous beach, right on the Pacific, great for surfing. The town feels like a small beach town (though it is just over the hill from bustling Sydney) with grocery stores setting up fruit stands outside and the like. Nice place. I didn't get down to the water (no time) but I'm told it is around 22 degrees C year round, so about 70 F. Wonderful! I'll touch it in Cairns (they say "Cans"-no r) and tell you if the Pacific is even hotter in the tropics.

Oh, I was going to tell you why the point is called Mrs. Macguire's Chair. Well, there was a govenor called Gov. Macguire and he wanted his wife to see the great harbor views. The Opera house wasn't there as I believe this was before 1973, but I think the bridge was in place. And the landforms are gorgeous regardless. So he built a road down to the end of the point (which is a bit east of main sydney and so was mostly bush or gardenland then I gather) and had convicts carve a chair out of the living rock of the point for his wife to sit on and enjoy the view. I saw it. It is nearly down at sea level and is carved into a little cave so it has it's own overhang if a shower comes up. Some steps lead up, and then there is a generous ledge where several people could sit. And then some steps lead down the other side. Best view in Sydney. That man took good care of his wife.

Well, I ought to get going and make sure I catch my train. I will be going overnight to Brisbane, and then in the morning I change trains for another overnight to Cairns. I arrive there at 4 pm on Friday the 8th East Coast Australia Time. So for about 2 days I will be incommunicado (I was going to say incognito for some reason - maybe I will be that too). Talk to you in Cairns!