Sydney - eventually!

BELINDA'S BLOG

Our room

We had a well earned lie in this morning.  I had initially had good intentions of going to visit the Flying Doctor Museum - which I had heard was worth a visit in Alice Springs.  We were all so tired out from the previous few days that we just stayed in bed for as long as we could.  It was lovely just being lazy people!  The kids didn't wake early either - but when they did no-one was in any hurry to do much.  I just packed up the small bits we'd got out and we had a pick up at 11.55 for our flight. 

All went well with the flight to Sydney - with Qantas.  I started to read Celia Ahernes - "PS I love you" on board which helped the time go quickly - but I did look a bit of an idiot as it's a real weepy story!  I had to keep blowing my nose and pretending to have something in my eye.!!

Daytime view

Having a mare with my cash card though, as no cash machine will give me any cash from my bank account.  Went round Sydney Airport trying all the ATM machines..... I got some out on another card eventually - but I was in desperate need as I had to pay a taxi driver to take us to the hotel. ($45 - bloody cheek).  Hqad a Fijian taxi driver who wanted to know how I was managing to do my travels with three kids.... did I work.... where was their Dad... how long I was here for....  had I been to Sydney before... why was I staying in the Shangri-La....  I should have just picked a motel.....    Thanks for that.  Can think of a really good song that Rhianna sang to play to him!!!!!

Gonig out for dinner...

Our hotel is a real luxury one! I felt a bit out of place in my shorts and trainers in the lobby as the business men and women were in and out in their smart suits!!!

The room has an outstanding look out over the harbour - with the Sydney Bridge and Opera House in full view.  Once we'd got ourselves in and settled, we smartened ourselves up and decided to check out what was on offer to eat.  The concierge said that there was only one restaurant open in the hotel as it was Sunday night - but he suggested the kids would really like it!  He said that there was a buffet option for both main course and desert.  It was raining and dark outside - so I didn't feel like wandering around in a strange town in search of somewhere nice to eat.  We went with the concierge's suggestion and took a table in the "Cafe Mix".  The food was ok - but the real highlight for the kids was the desert buffet.  For the main course - there was a choice of Western, Indian or Chinese foods, plus a selection of antipasti for starters.  The kids picked at bits but didn't really find anything other than some delicious steak that was cooked to order in the western section.  They all had a go at peeling the huge prawns I had for my main course - with Phillip particuularly keen to take the head off of one!

Our room

The desert buffet was outstanding - legendary as Greg put it!!  There were TWO chocolate fountains and loads of goodies to stick in them - marshmallows, fruit (tons of stawberries especially), jelly sweets.....  The kids were so excited about it I doubt they gave their poor teeth a second thought - let alone the number of calories in the meal.  We sat eating and debating what we thought the cost was likely to be.....  The waiter had seated us and just assumed we knew the ins and outs of the buffet.....I didn't think to ask the cost at the time!  Well, let's just say that this was the most expensive meal I have ever taken the kids out on.  It will not be repeated - no matter how much pleading and begging I get - and the total I signed for was probably enough to buy my weeks shopping in Tesco's!

Chocolate heaven!

With very full bellies we crashed out in our room - I let the kids play on their Gameboys for a bit to let the food go down!  I finished off reading the book I'd started this morning  - I dread to think how much mascara has gotten on to their pristine white cotton sheets while I've been crying and reading!!!  It was a good book - but a bit of a sorry tale.  I will look out for the film now - and see how it compares.  Stayed up far too late as I was keen to finish it!

How yummy!

Mmmmmm.....

Chocoholics meeitng here....

Night \view of bridge...

Night view from room.