Sydney

We have arrived in to Sydney, first stop the city centre to find the Apple Store. After finding a parking spot, costing us $6 an hour we walked to the Apple store to upload more photos and our website. We were due to arrive at Lila’s at 7pm, so we had a few hours to kill and headed up to Palm Beach, or Summer Bay to those who watch too much TV. At Palm Beach the beach was golden and very clean, one of the nicest beaches we had seen. Walking along the golden beach we could see the film crew and cast on the beach. So thinking we could be extras for Home & Away we headed up the beach, we were too late as when we arrived they were just finish shooting. Looking at the cast we did not recognise any of the actors, so we just took some photos and moved on, back towards the Lifeguard station, which doubled up as the film studio for Home & Away. Still not recognising any one we decided they did not need any old extras so we headed to South Croydon to find where Lila lived. A very warm welcome awaited us at Lila’s and it was great to meet her man - Simon too. Really strange to see her after almost 20 years. Thanks to Facebook we were back in touch again just a month before we left England so how good was her timing? We spent a great couple of days with them. Her hospitality was marvellous and she has looked after us really well. Bed, Bath and home cooked food. bliss! Our first full day in Sydney we went into the harbour and did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. It was quite expensive to do but we both felt we couldn’t come all this way and not do it! We had great views from the top so all well worth it. The following day we headed into the Harbour again and rode the ferry over to Manly with Lila & Simon. We cheated and didn’t get off so we got our return trips for the price of a single! Hey $6 is $6! Lila & Simon joined us for a beer in the German beer house before heading off to a gig they had booked, so we stayed on in the city and tried to find the Irish Bars for St Patrick’s Day celebrations and atmosphere. We got our Irish hats with our Magna’s cider and headed over to the Opera House to see it in the dark. Beautiful! The views of the bridge were fabulous too. A nice lazy day followed and this time we headed to Bondi Beach. Somewhere I know Bryan has been looking forward to going and having a swim. He went into the prestigious Iceberg Pool and when he came out of the changing room, he had got himself a pair of speedos with BONDI written across his bum. It was quite funny. Lila and Simon had got their dates wrong for another party they were going to so we all stayed in and had a few cocktails and an episode of Only Fools and Horses. I think Bryan is trying to convert Australia to it! So it was about 4.30am when we all went to bed and poor Lila had to be up at 5am to go to work. Sorry Lila xx Bryan wanted to stay and go to this party with Lila & Simon the next night so we are staying one more day before heading to Melbourne tomorrow. So last minute things to do - Go up the Pylons that support the bridge (museum inside apparently) and..... go to the Apple store of course! gotta get all these photos uploaded where we can. Party time, it was almost midnight and Lila, Simon and Bryan were ready to go out, Jody on the other hand decided that going to bed was best as she had a very long drive the next day. The small club was playing Drum n Bass in a small room and 90’s techno in the other. After many hours of dancing the three of them rolled up at 4am. Another great night in Sydney. Lila & Simon’s House Room rating: 9/10 - shared bathroom, very very comfy bed Location: 8/10 - lovely location but quite near to everywhere Staff: 10/10 - fantastic hosts Value for Money: 10/10 Other comments: warm, very clean and made very welcome Stay again? definitely overall city experience: 9