Monday 24 December Christmas Eve

Observatory

Yesterday we'd done the required supermarket run to stock the cupboards with our Christmas delights and treats. We'd re-anchored to keep within the permitted anchoring area and I'd met Bob at a pub in the Rocks where we had more time to talk.

view from the bridge

Today was another beautiful sunny day so we went out for more sight seeing. We thought we'd go and discover one of the oldest parts of Sydney, The Rocks, which is the area to the north of the Bridge still with many of the original nineteenth century sandstone buildings. On the way we stopped in to see the old Observatory on the hill with clear views over the harbour. We saw the time ball drop at 1 o'clock and then wandered down the hill and up on to the Bridge walkway. You can do an organised walk over the Bridge or take the steps to the top of the SE pylon for a 20^th of the cost. We didn't do either. We did walk to the bottom of the pylon went ooh over the view, peaked at the rooftop deck and swimming pool of the Hyatt hotel, took more photos and flashed my knickers to all when my skirt was lifted sky-high by the wind.

After my underwear expose we returned to the Rocks and wended our way to the Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a nice building with air conditioning, a rooftop restaurant, library, a floor for a special exhibit of Anish Kapoor and two half floors of regular exhibitions, ie nice building with limited content. By the time I'd seen the modern art and David had rested his feet I was super tired and it was time for the walk home. On the way we stopped at the bottle shop for our obligatory bottles of Christmas fizz and at the fish market once more for more salmon.

In the Rocks

the chef

I wouldn't say David and I love seafood but looking at our festive fare we have prawns, fresh salmon, smoked salmon, taramasalata and a freezer with tuna and dorado. Not a turkey or a sprout to be found anywhere. For example tonight's dinner was smoked salmon, prawns and avocado then table top cooked salmon steaks with rocket (aka arugula) and a bottle of chilled rose.