Day 1 in Sydney

Mom is here! I meant to snap a picture of her coming in at the airport, but I was too excited. The airlines lost her luggage, well, hopefully not "lost," they seem to think they know where it is and can have it here tomorrow. I felt bad though, especially when we had to buy very expensive replacement items in a downtown Sydney shop.

We got back to the hostel around 10:30 in the morning and were told we could not check in until 2pm. I had a light day planned, just exploring the Circular Quay, because I figured she would be tired. We walked through the Rock's Markets area that are set up during the weekend and got lunch from one of the booths. We sat in the sun near the Circular Quay and watched people and the harbour as we ate. Afterwards we walked over to the Opera House to get the obligatory tourist pictures in front of and around the Opera House. After a full lap around the Opera House, a short time on the Man O War jetties near the Opera House, and a small tour of the edge of the Botanical Gardens, we stopped in some shops at the Circular Quay to get Mom some replacement stuff and some other essentials (like wine and an ice cream cone!) It was around 2 by then and so we made our way back, almost all uphill, to the hostel. I love The Rocks area, but it's such a random, dispersed layout, with many levels, I almost never go back the same way I left. I don't do this for new scenery, but because I cannot find my way back! There is always a new series of stairs to climb to take you to another section of the road you didn't know existed; it's nice to discover new places each day in an area you've spent a week in.

Anyway, we managed to find our way back and checked into our hostel. Mom took a shower and changed into a shirt she had bought and shorts I had lent her and didn't emerge for the rest of the day, haha. She took a nap around 3, and I ended up doing the same. I made us an easy dinner of spaghetti and salad, delivered her room service because she looked too tired to make it down 3 flights of stairs, then she managed to stay up until around 7:30 pm before going back to sleep again. I told her if she wakes up at like 4 or 5 tomorrow morning, she could go watch the Olympics in the TV room, haha.

Tomorrow we have a harbour lunch cruise planned, so I promise to bring you some pictures. I was too overwhelmed and distracted today, plus it would have just been more shots of the Opera House and Bridge, like I took in 2010 and April.