Day 51 - Manly, Sydney

Day 51 – Sunday 2^nd March 2014 – Manly, Sydney

Today is a trip down memory lane.

Manly Ferry

We were ashore at 10.15 and a short walk along circular quay where the ferries leave ,and we boarded the 11.00 ferry to Manly.

It is a thirty minute crossing to Manly and you go back down the harbour to Sydney Heads and just before there, the ferry turns to the north and into the bay where Manly is situated.

The rain has been persistent all morning and from the ferry landing, it is straight road down to the beach.  On the way, because of the weather we decided to do some shopping and stocked up on toiletries and batteries.

Manly Beach

Manly South Beach

Although Bondi Beach is the most famous and situated on the south side of Sydney, I have always found Manly to be the best.

The pilgrimage today is to the north end of Manly and the houses on the cliff.  Just over forty years ago, I used to share a flat with my sister and her husband, while on leave and during the twelve months I spent on ships running from Sydney/Brisbane to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.  When I was last here there was only about six small blocks of flats on the end of the cliff and now it is covered in housing.

Manly North

I was looking forward to a stroll along the beach and up the steps and back to the flat, but due to the weather, I doubt, if I could of found the flat amongst all of the development, and seemingly Manly is now, one of the most expensive areas in Sydney to live.

Pubs

At the end of the main street and overlooking the beach are the two pubs I used to frequent all those years ago, the ‘Steyne’ and the ‘New Brighton’.  It was good to find shelter here from the rain, although modernised they still brought back happy memories and drinking out of middy glasses.

Surfers

Even in this weather the surfers were out on their boards, and wearing wet suits, it was not like that in my days.

With it being a Sunday, Manly had a lot of visitors with the shops and bars/restaurants doing a brisk trade.  We strolled back to the landing and caught the 15.45 ferry back to Sydney.

Colin headed back to the ship but I had more memories to find, and the rain had eventually stopped.

George Street

The main street in Sydney is George Street and is now surrounded by very tall buildings. It was a hive of activity with lots of visitors, mostly Japanese in and out of the shops.

After many enquiries, I found myself in the ‘Criterion’ an Irish pub which had an internet connection.  To the sound of two musicians, one with a guitar and a girl playing a fiddle or pen whistle, the Irish melodies eventually all sounded the same, as I caught up with this blog site and emails.

Sydney Bridge

Sydney Opera House

A leisurely walk back to Circular Quay and I was back on board for 19.00.  During our time ashore, the ship had been very busy, as they had disembarked 1200 people and taken the same number on board, of which 800 were Japanese.

Pre-dinner drinks in the Café Carinthia; new guests at our table, with Ellen from Perth, Australia and Avril from New Zealand.  During dinner we left Sydney at 21.00 with night time views from the Restaurant windows.

The theatre had a show introducing some of the new acts, we are to see in the coming weeks.  The orchestra has changed, though most of the singers and dancers are the same.

It was time to close another eventful day, great to go back to Manly and walk the streets of Sydney, another wonderful city which for me will never lose its attraction.