Tuesday 25 September 2012

Parental Leave Pass

We love our parents being grandparents!  And that is certainly the thing we miss most about not living in Sydney (aside from passionfruit that is!)

Grandma & Grandad took the kids on their own for one night while Nanna & Grandpa braved it for two nights.

The first night we stayed at the Observatory Hotel.  We walked around the actual Observatory at dusk before heading in to Galileo for dinner.  It was a wonderful time! What an awesome hotel.  If you get a chance to try out their showers it is worth the $.


The other two nights we stayed at the Marriott Harbourside thanks to our Marriott points. Although we had a city view room the manager was happy to upgrade us to an Opera House view.  Pretty nice - see below!


We spent our days wandering around the city visiting old haunts.  We walked around to the Opera House, through the Botanic Gardens, into the Pitt St Mall and then down to the QVB.  We stopped along the way at the Lindt cafe and various shopping excursions.


However the highlights were the dining experiences.  You know we love to eat! And even though we are now gluten free it doesn't mean that we can't eat well.

I already mentioned Galileo's at the Observatory which was as always a fine dining experience.

We also visited Cafe Sydney.  Andrew hadn't been there before but I had and was extremely keen to go back.  We had a reservation but had to wait in the (unlit) bar area for 30 minutes.  Given there was no one throwing a tantrum, wiping their runny nose on my sleeve or jumping on the seats I really didn't mind that much as I enjoyed my bellini.  But the manager was upset so she asked if we would like a table on the balcony at the front (ie with the best view!) Well, yes we would.  I was a little worried it would be cold but they had outdoor heaters and wait for it, personal blankets on each seat.  The waiter was a celiac so he could easily tell us what was gluten free.  The food was superb! The view was sublime! And the company wasn't too bad either.

 On our last night in Sydney we met up with Dave & Kel in Woolloomooloo to dine at China Doll.  The food again was amazing. The waitress was a little forward (maybe she had a tic but I'm pretty sure she was winking at me suggestively) but the Asian food was just what we had been missing.  And here we are on the pier for my favourite photo of the time in Sydney. [Alexis your necklace is a world traveller!]



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