Then we went up to the Harbour Bridge and into the Pylon. There were lotsa pictures showing how the bridge was built and brochures from when the bridge first opened. Lotsa nice murals that were painted by children from nearby schools for the bicentennial. The view from the top of the pylon was amazing!!! It looked like you could see all of Australia!! Upon coming back down, we watched a video of the bridge and tunnel being built. The tunnel has a special thing to enable you to listen to radio and talk on car phone while going through it. Then when we got down, we walked across the bridge. And at the halfway point sat on the bench and had a nice kiss.
When we got back from the walk across the bridge. We walked down under it and then along the water. We had an ice cream and then caught the ferry back. When we got home, we watched “Hey, Hey it’s Saturday.” Then, Eric fixed us ham, cheese, and salsa sandwiches. Very yummy!!!!!!
We sat with Dean and Judy for awhile before Lara came home. I got to meet the guinea pigs, the BIG cat, and the pretty fish too! Dean and I had a Victoria Bitter. It tastes much like the Melbourne Bitter. We had a nice visit and when we were getting ready to leave. Judy gave us our engagement present. It was a set of tumblers!! Really nice and handy considering the 2 we already had would greatly limit the number of people who could drink at once here!!! hehehe Now we can have guests!!!
We then went shopping at Woolworth’s and then had supper at McDonalds.
When we went back to Eric’s I got to meet Uncle Brian. Nanna was with him so we went up (everything is up here!!!!)to the car to say hi. After they left, Eric fixed us rice, sesame prawn bread, dim sims, and mini spring rolls. Good Aussie tucker!!!! hehehe
I had some Lemon Squash and a cake and biscuit (cookie). We had a nice visit with Thelma and she gave us licorice all sorts. hehehe I also got to see the twin cabinet of the one Eric wants to redo. It is beautiful!! Thelma also gave us our engagement present..........a set of tumblers!!! hehehe Now we can have a big party!!! They are pretty and different from the ones Dean and Judy gave us.
We came home watched Au’s Funniest Home Videos, Spin City, and Pearl. We also downloaded the software for the pic company developing our pix. 2MB in 2 hrs. Eric’s puter is fast!!!! hehehe
This evening, we went to Taronga Zoo for the night zoo. It was really nice. Some of the animals were sleeping, but most of the nocturnals were out and lots others too!! Our friends, Pam and Katie, went with us and we walked around the zoo for several hours. We had so much fun!!! I got to see a platypus!!! He was so little. I thought they got big, but he wasn't even a foot long. The chimpanzees were cute and wanted some food. They held their hands out begging!! hehe Chester, the white tiger is beautiful!!! And the snow leopards were really pretty too. The tapir made a terrible noise that sounded like a bird. He looked like he had a suntan coz of the white markings on his back. Their were lotsa animals, lions, tigers, bears, zebra, giraffes, kangaroos, dingos, possums, wallabies, and tasmanian devils. Their were mountain goats up on top of a big mountain of rocks, it didn't look like those hoofs would make it up there, but they are designed for it! The echidnas were so cute!!!! I think I got some good pix of them.
The giraffes and elephants have the best view in the zoo!! Their areas overlook Sydney Harbour. The Harbour was beautiful with the city lights on it and the Harbour Bridge is lit up at night. Eric took some pix of it. I hope they come out good.
Eric pretended to be really knowledgable of the animals by reading the signs and then telling us about the animal's habits. hehehe Pam fell for it everytime!! She would say," how do you know this?" And Katie and I would point to the sign. hehe I guess she thought Zoo Friends know everything!!!
We ate Hamburgers and Hot Dogs and chips (aka French fries). When Eric asked me to hand him some chips, I was looking for chips!!! And then Pam handed him the fries and I thought, I knew that!! hehehe I got a little bit cool coz I was drinking a coke and Pam offered me her jumper (aka sweater), but I didn't need it. The weather was cool, but not cold. It was really perfect for walking around. We had a nice time despite Pam's fear that a peacock would swoop down from the tree and get her!!
When we finally left the zoo. Eric took me down to the end of the road to see the Harbour and then we went and drove across the bridge. It is really beautiful all lit up at night and pictures don't do it justice!!! And we drove around the city some, I had my face glued to the windscreen (aka windshield) staring up at all the BIG buildings!! Sydney is so BEAUTIFUL!! They buildings were huge!!!! And we drove near Sydney Tower which looks so pretty at night. All of the city lights and buildings were alot for this little country girl to take in, but it was wonderful!!! We drove down by the Rocks (Sydney's first settlement) and under the Harbour Bridge. We parked there and had a walk under the bridge. A nice kiss. Then we walked along the water and just enjoyed the lights. The opera house is absolutely stunning at night!!! I was in total awe!!!
There were some party boats that passed by and made the water ripple and the city lights danced on the water. It was great to be there with Eric!! He is sooooooo wonderful!! I love him so much!!! I'm not trying to brag, but then we came home!! It was a perfect day!!!!!!!
Sydney is surprisingly green to be such a big city. Population 4 million which is certainly the biggest city I've ever been to. When you think of the city, you think concrete jungle, but here there are lotsa trees and grass and flowers and it isn't only in the suburbs. And there are lotsa animals. We saw bats flying around when we were down at the Harbour Bridge. I got to hold a Rainbow Lorikeet while it ate sunflower seed's the other day at Thelma's and at Pam's I got to pet a possum that came by to eat apple. Makes it sound like the wildlife isn't too wild!! hehehe
Eventually, we were off and I had a seat by the window so we got to see a great view of Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches. Changed planes in Brisbane and then eventually arrived in Gladstone.
When we got to Gladstone we went back an hour and twenty years!!! hehehe Jan and John were there waiting for us. After a hello, hugs, and I showed them my engagement ring , we headed to Tannum Sands. When we got to Jan and John’s, they gave me the stuffed possum. It is really cute. And made in Sydney!!!! A real Aussie native!!!! We had John’s Famous Curry for dinner. It was delicious!!! He puts peanuts, bananas, and pineapple in it, although he admitted he has never made the same curry twice. And after a nice visit, I gave Dad a wake up call to tell him we made it to QLD.
I gave John the Coushatta Citizens to look at and he read about the commisioning of the Submarine Louisiana. Then I showed them all the small town news and we compared prices to the prices in AU!!