Thursday march 5 and Friday March 6: my birthdays!

Since i was out til 3 last nite, I got up at 9 am on my birthday rather rough, but ready to hit the walking tour at the Rocks. It was included as a option in my Sydney visitor pass. The guide showed us the oldest house in Sydney and the stone block masonry that the prisoners on teh island had to cut out. The buidlings and the walled fences in the area show these clocks and each person/cutter also added cuts on the side of the blocks to show their signautre so they got credit for the cutting. We also went through an aread called Foundations that had been demolished during the bubonic plague, except for the foundations. An artist and historical group has since rebuilt some of these areas to and added furniture to show what the living areas looked like when they were there, built right into the rocks. We also walked under a tunnel that the prisoners had cut out using pickaxes for 14 years~! before they started using gunpowder (not dynomite). This tunnel is under the connecting road to the Harbor Bridge.

After the walk, I took my hungry self to a restaurant I'd read about called Sailor Thai in the Sailors Home in th Rocks. I sat out on a little patio looking at the wharf. This place was nicely hidden away but quickly filled up with business luncheons, not tourists. I had a prawn wrap and trilled tasmanian salmon- both amazing. Not the cheapest for lunch, around $40 including wine, but made a memorable lunch for my birthday. Then I was off to roam the wharf and catch the bus to the Sydney tower for a view of the city. After that, I went to the Sydney jet boat ride, also on the Sydney pass. Its a speed boat in the harbor that does 360 degree turns and spins. I got soaking wet as we didnt wear the ponchos, since it was a hot day. Should have wore the ponchos! I walked up to St. George strett to catch the bus back tot eh hostel, take a quick shower and then my friend Jayne picked me up to head to dinner and show with her friends. We headed to marrikville, a part of Sydney to a pub and then to see Mia Dyson, an amzing blues rocker kind of like Bonnie Raitt. Jayne's friends were great and we had a good time at the concert. Great birthday Down Under indeed. Tomorrow is my birthday States time.

Friday.
My 3 day sydney pass is going to get barely used today I text a German friend, Charlie, from Wed nite and then meet her at the ferry to Manly. We end up renting boogie or they call body boards and hite the surf. The water is warm and clear and the waves aren't very strong but I'm happy just being in the water. After we have lunch we head back to the ferry to Sydney and I rush back on the bus to clean up at the hostel and then back on the bus to head back to the Opera House to see Justin Bond's caberet show. Justin used to be Kiki in Kiki and Herb. I think I've seen him perform as such at leat 5 times, so I'm excited to see him. Jayne had to work so I call up another new friend and Jacinta from Sydney replies that she's interested, so we meet up at the Sydney OPera House. Imagine my excitement when Justin says his show is a Carpenters tribute, their first album. Hallelujah|! He performs my favorite Superstar and I'm glowing. Happy birthday to me. When he does the Interplanetary song, I about died. In a good way >. Then we are off to to meet up with Charlie and her friend Mona up from Melbourne and then we hit the girl party at the Mars Lounge./ Dancing/ dancers. Hot bar. Back at hostel by 3 am.

Tourist days and Dancing nights in Sydney

I'll fill more in later.
Wednesday
Bus tour
Aquarium
Wildlife Park
Bank
sly Fox bar.

Thursday- Happy birthday to me.

Rocks Walking tour
Salior Thai restaurant at the Rocks
Sydney Tower
Jet boat ride
Mia Dyson
dinner with Jayne's crew

Monday and Tuesday - heading to Australia!

Monday
fly to Auckland, stay over, washed clothes yay! ordered in a Pizza Hut, not much around these airport hotels.

Tuesday
arrived in Sydney!
shuttled to Glebe Village Backpackers.
went out with my friend Jayne to Sly Fox- where Michele's friends do their Bingay Bingo. It was a blast, but they ran those numbers so fast, I didn't have a chance. Drinking Cooper beer with Jayne, my friend I met 13 years ago in Brighton Beach, UK. We reconnected on Facebook a few years ago through our email addresses.