Rocking on the Rocks

We land in Sydney, the  Rocks  has heavy rain and it’s late in the evening.  A pleasant young  well educated Indian taxi driver from Hyderabad takes us to our apartment . The owners of the apartment tell us the fob is fastened in a box on  to a tree near the property . In the heavy rain on our knees we sort out the combo . All the hassle  is worth it as the apartment is well located and laid out.

It’s the 48th Mardi Gras in Sydney this weekend which will be a first for me but not my Aussie wife. 

The Rocks  is now a twenty hectare site with origins back to the early Aboriginals,  a short Dutch involvement , then Captain Cook  in 1770.  Thousands  of  convicts and soldiers from England came next. The Rocks  roll down to the harbour now with its multiple piers, hotels, restaurants, shops,  and ferry terminals.

Big cruise ships dock daily , today it’s the Anthem of the Seas , 4000 passengers. Ironically an old sailing barge floats next to it.  Tomorrow  the Queen Elizabeth 2 docks and in August we shall be sailing on her out of New York .

The Rocks area is now graced with a new light rail system. Having also used the trains and ferries it is impressive transport services. 

We head out from our pad on the Rocks, this was Jezzabel's stomping ground for a couple of decades. Little  has changed since then but she still doesn’t know when to go home.

The Rocks musuem is a must to visit on a first trip  to the area. Looks small but amazing amount of info and visuals .

Lunch is outside the Fortune of War which dates from 1828 with an outdoor restaurant and two bars. Amazing restaurant manager who should be on the stage, so funny. Jezzabel and I walk under the iconic  harbour bridge, on to a number of old piers, Walsh  Bay, that look a bit tired,  some sites unoccupied, can’t even get a coffee. Days  later however we have a great meal at Venturo. 

My observation is that service and trading hours can be  quite flakey in many parts of the city.  The International airport   closes at 11 pm, it’s the capitol! This results in us sleeping outside with fifty others  on our flight to New Zealand,   again not even a coffee available.  Poor service and at-least a decade before a new airport is operational. 

It’s Saturday and the Rocks street markets are buzzing. Another cruise ship dominates the water front, we meet an Aussie friend and have coffee at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Great coffee but poor food offer, interesting statue out front. We lunch at Irish Mercantile Hotel on an outside table, excellent service and meal. All this in front of the Saturday market, the place is packed. In the evening loads of  tourists and concert goers are out, some from a Grace Jones event . 

The joy of the Rocks  is the waterfront,  few cars, the alleyways, steps, cafes, bars quant shops, history and loads of tourists.

In 1973  Jack Mondey created the “Battle of the Rocks” which focused on conservation, the green areas and many terrace houses were saved, but many had already been knocked down.We enter The Orient Hotel, the last time I was going into this hotel was ten years ago. A bouncer said I could be intoxicated with a red face ( sun exposure )  and no entry was permitted. I asked for the manager, I was told he could not change the decision. 

The Observatory  is worth the walk , a stunning raised location with amazing views. I followed this with a pint in a pub that’s over 200 years old, The Lord Nelson. I have to say the beer range and creativity is greater  in Christchurch, can’t find IPA in Sydney. 

Lots of fun in the Rocks catching up with local friends and a few trips, Manley, New Town  and Darling Harbour. Great shopping in the city for the wife, I can safely say it’s a place I like to visit every five or so years.