Jim_Iain

Forgot the Mains…so let’s skip to desert I had the Affagoto and Iain the Chocolate Mousse. The Affagato came with a Frangelico which Iain gladly finished off.

I had the Scallops -- Incredible. A touch of Caviar really gave a nice salty hit. I chuckled when Iain's Sardines arrived. I said... I think I could have done that. I looked at the sardines and did fine they were top end and a whimsical presentation

They have been awarded The Best Wine Menu in Sydney for Years.. They have both some eye opening priced wines but also have very reasonably priced wine by the glass or bottle. Celebrity should take note.

On our first day in Sydney, while taking refuge from a downpour. Remember the picture of the lady with the umbrella. We noticed The Lord Nelson Brewer Hotel, Brewery, Pub and Restaurant The Lord Nelson was constructed during the late 1830s and is the oldest Pub In Sydney. When I got home - Google to the Rescue. Found that you could make reservations for either outside, in the Pub or fine dining upstairs. We chose the Fine Dining... Of Course. We are finding something very interesting in Sydney. Many of the finer restaurants require a deposit in advance and charge up to $50 pp if no show. They often also have a limit of 2 hours if busy to assure turns on the tables. As you know we are late diners so booked for 8PM. One warning.... I forgot to shoot a picture of our Main Dish - Lamb for me and SpatchCock for Iain.

We circled around and then started back up Argile Street. I wanted to visit Observatory Hill Park. Sydney's early colonists found it to be the highest point in area around their new settlement on Sydney Cove, and consequently became a lookout point to monitor any ships that might be entering Sydney Harbor. In 1803 Governor Hunter ordered a fort to be built on the site of the mill to defend the colony from rebellious convicts and possible French attack. The fort called Fort Phillip, was never fully completed and never fired a single shot in anger. In 1825 the eastern wall of the fort was converted to a signal station. From here flags sent messages to ships in the harbor and the signal station on the South Head of the harbor. In 1840 the fort was partially demolished. A new signal station designed by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis, was built on the east wall in 1848. This is now the oldest building on the hill. Sydney Observatory began as a simple time-ball tower built near the signal station. Every day at exactly 1.00 pm, the time ball on top of the tower would drop to signal the correct time to the city and harbour below. At the same time a cannon on Fort Denison was fired. The tower was soon expanded into a full observatory. Designed by Alexander Dawson, the building consisted of a domed chamber to house the equatorial telescope, a room with long, narrow windows for the transit telescope a computing room or office, and a residence for the astronomer. In 1877, a western wing was added to provide office and library space and a second domed chamber for telescopes.

With 2 ships in port, the Rocks were bustling with a nice mix of locals and tourists. Just too crowded. We figure we will come back after the weekend.

I guess Iain also won. We just followed the trail and had beautiful views of the harbor fronts. Before we knew it we were coming out at The Rocks. Oops... The Rocks...

Iain wanted to go to the street market at the Rocks and I wanted to Bangrango Reserve. I won out and off we went.

Saturday - I'm getting caught up. It was a beautiful sunny day after a night of heavy rain, lightning and thunder. It was fun to see as we rarely get thunder and lightning. We got a slow start and just puttered around and had lunch before taking off. We are up on Miller's Point a high ridge overlooking the Harbor to the east and Darlilngton Harbor to the West

We haven't even heard from home in Ayrshire --- has it been bad. Crazy weather. Saw on the News that yesterday Mt Hamilton overlooking Silicon Valley had 6 inches of snow. On the valley floor we rarely get frost.

All the instruction manuals I've read indicated you need soft background to override white noise. So much to learn. Love learning new skills.

It should be great. Only negative is the LONG flights... but recovery is quick.

We are suppose to have fantastic weather. A bit of Rain on Tuesday but the rest clear and warm.

Approved all new requests. ..

Here's a quick and dirty video of our AirBnB on Miller's Point - Great area. We are off to dinner so may take awhile to render.

After we got into our AirBnB we went to find some provisions. Of course another deluge. It did dry up and we went exploring. The Boy of the Rocks The long and complex, histories of The Rocks' are, united as a continuous, place of creative play, friendship and survival in childrents, lives, The Rocks was home to many diverse communities whose children clambered across, its, steep cliff edges and gathered on rock, platformsnte, perilous rock faces no obstacle for the, curious.

Let's wind our clock back to Noon on Friday - Continued to pour so trying to figure out what to do to stay dry for the next 2 hours until check in time. One Idea was to camp out at a hotel lobby. Across from the Oversea Passenger Sea Terminal is the Modern Art Museum. Checked Google and found it was free so decision was made. Was really interesting and lots of place to sit down and watch multimedia exhibits and just explore the 4 story museum.

Yea... All caught up --

He definitely would not recognize it. Most of the area had once been Fruit Orchards and all the towns and train stops were shipping stations. There now are no longer any orchards -- All we grow is Silicon.

It is suppose to be dry until Tuesday -- then only 6 mm (1/4 inch) predicted. Suppose to be great weather in the intrim

Really strange with relatively small quakes... sometime on person will feel it and another won't. More likely on upper floors than if on sold ground.

We have been there and a great area.