Sydney

Sydney

Night 1
Between our delayed flight, trouble finding our driver (oh, I thought you were going to come down the other escalator ), and the room change, we only had time for a drinks at the Shangri-La's 26th floor bar (compliments of the Manager, merci) before heading out to Aria for dinner. Our first experience with Matt Moran was two great meals on SQ last year. Spectacular setting at Circular Quay, at the bottom of the hill before the Opera House. I wasn't as wow'd as I had expected... pleasant but unmemorable meal with service that seemed to drag on and on.

Sydney
Day 1
Taronga Zoo and Watsons Bay

After a great breakfast, we headed over to the Quay for our ferry to the zoo, on a beautiful Saturday morning.

We had a great time with some new friends...

Next we headed back to Circular Quay for our connecting ferry to Watsons Bay and lunch at Doyle's.

Despite the mixed reviews I'd read, Doyle's was a great experience and we all enjoyed the seafood and atmosphere...

And the great views...

Mrs. SFO decided to spend a quiet evening back at the hotel while the boys head out for some beer and a Rugby match at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park. We figured we'd take the 55 minute 6:00P ferry to Olympic Park, which we mistakenly assumed to actually be in the same time zone as Olympic Park. Men can be so gullible at times. Also, easily distracted by an attractive woman. Anyway, this 30-something pilates instructor comes over and starts "chatting up" the younger of the two of us. He was so distracted, truth be told so was I, that we weren't paying attention to the sign board change (or the announcements) as we waited for the B pier to board while our ferry pulled away from the A pier.

Anyway, we shared a good laugh with a couple from New Zealand after he accurately opined "that's what happens when you are too busy chatting up the girl". After we got over the embarrassment and stopped laughing, we struck up a friendly conversation, while the two younger ones exchanged contact info and agreed to a date in April when she will be in the US for a wedding. Oh, to be young and single. 

We decided not to miss the 6:30P ferry. I enjoyed the outside scenery, while the younger ones continued to flirt and generally carry on inside until she disembarked three stops before ours.

As we arrived at the Olympic Park wharf, it became obvious that it is in the middle of nowhere and we weren't even close to anything that resembles a Stadium or a Park. But there were 8 others walking up the wharf and a bus waiting at the end of the wharf. The driver confirmed that yes, he is going right by the Stadium. We arrived just before that start, buy our general admission tickets and head for the entrance.

Taking in some scenery. I believe I like rugby already...

Only about 30,000 in attendance tonight. Not exactly a raucous Raiders type crowd but they did come to life when the Waratahs scored. There are a lot of similarities to American football and it didn't take long to understand the gist of the game. But wow these guys are tough, pounding the cr*p out of other without helmets or pads.

Entertaining half time show.

And apparently younger boys get to pose with the FxPro girls.

Not knowing how we were going to navigate the 4-5 miles to the ferry, and not having any skin in this game for that matter, we decided to leave early and check in with the bus dispatcher would had earlier promised the he would "work something out to get us back to the ferry". True to his word, we had our own private 50 seat bus to the wharf and the ferry which left right on time at 9:35P. Another beautiful night and we sat on the bow enjoying the fresh air and marveling at the precision of the captain at each stop. Photo time. If the ferry would stop vibrating or moving, these photos would have been even better.

Back at the Shangri-La, midnight fireworks at the harbour.