Free in Sydney

    Online this morning at the hostel, as somehow I have been given 45 free minutes.  I got to g-chat with Celia, which was definitely a highlight!  I am having a wonderful time but of course I miss my kiddos.  I was interested to hear Ethan's thoughts as well - early on in his adventure he said that he really loved Australia and was having a fabulous time.  He wasn't homesick, but he said he really missed all of us and  knew that Australia was just too far away.  I do understand what he means.
     It was not quite as sunny and warm today as had been predicted, but it was still a beautiful day, and nice enough for what was supposed to be winter.  I went down to Coogee Beach and stepped into the water so that I could say I had put my toes in the Tasman Sea.  I took the bus in to Hyde Park yet again and then went to Paddy's Market, only to discover that it is not open on Mondays, but there was a "Market City" shopping area right next to it so I walked around a bit.  Then I went over to Elizabeth Street to see if I could get into the Great Synagogue, but no luck - it was also closed, but I managed to get a few photos of the outside through the gates.  Then I walked down George Street to The Rocks, stopping in a few places along the way.  I had lunch at Circular Quay and went to the Botannic Gardens, which I hadn't really had enough time to see the other day.  The Gardens were absolutely stunningly beautiful, and seemed such a peaceful place to be.  The way it is set up it makes you feel part of the landscape, and encourages you to participate and enjoy.  It was very noisy from all the screeching birds, but the views were just wonderful.  As always I thought of Dan and how much he would enjoy this - just his kind of perfect afternoon.
     I returned to Coogee at around 6-ish and went to Macca's to check e-mail, in what has become a kind of routine for me.  Roxy is going to pick me up tomorrow and we will have lunch together, and I am really looking forward to seeing her.  While I was online Ethan g-chatted me and asked if I was at Macca's and when I asked if he was at home he said yes, that he was sitting on the front porch.  I said I would be right over.  So nice to be able to say that!  We sat on the front porch together for a while and in the space of about an hour or so the fire alarm went off - they have been having trouble with it and unfortunately the kids have to get out every time it goes off and the fire brigade has to come.  They were able to adjust the alarm so that the faulty bit wouldn't keep setting it off, so hopefully there won't be any more "outdoor meetings" tonight.  We went to Five-O for a yummy dinner and then back to Ethan's for some marathon TV, accompanied by goon and fabulous dark chocolate Tim Tams - my new favourite!  I left late and when I returned to my common area one of my "roomies" was entertaining a gentleman friend.  They seemed to be playing a computer game and were nice enough when I came in, but I have to admit it was just a bit awkward....  Oh well, it is an Adventure.