Landed in Sydney on Wednesday and decided, because of a  long layover to Cairns, to explore the city and bay a bit. What a fantastic place – incredibly clean, beautiful and cosmopolitan. The architecture is a very interesting blend of classical mixed with bold and new.

The weather could’t have been better – 50 degrees F at 7:30 am, warming up to 65F by noon. Aussies are astonishingly attractive and friendly. You feel as though you’ve known everyone you speak with for years. Great folks. A bit puzzled by this store’s name:

After wandering a bit through the financial district and grabbing breakfast, I headed over to the ferry terminal to see the inner harbor by boat. Everyone said it’s a must to get the lay of the land. This classic I spied en route was towing a mint Airstream – funny to see them juxtaposed downtown in a major urban area. I immediately thought of Ward.

Here’s the Sydney Opera House as we slid by, shimmering in early morning light:

I then rode the ferry to Manley, a bedroom community and tourist haven (great combo) 25 minutes by boat from the inner harbor, due east of downtown. Manley is unique because it fronts Sydney Harbor on its west side and the Pacific Ocean on its east. Both are separated by only a quarter mile stretch of land with charming restaurants, shops and taverns scattered about. I met the most delightful couple in their eighties while sitting on a bench at the beach in Manley – both are German, having come to Australia by themselves fifty some-odd years ago, after which they made their separate ways then met and fell in love decades ago. How delightful they were to talk to and meet. I’m always so heartened to see enduring and true love.

After flying from Sydney to Cairns, I picked up my camper van and made my way to Palm Cove and Trinity Beach yesterday. Both are 20 – 30 miles north of Cairns and are well-known as escapes / havens for Cairns residents. They are each incredibly beautiful, small towns with no buildings higher than the tallest palm trees. What a great idea.

The views looking out on the ocean from Palm Cove and Trinity Beach are sublime. Both towns reminded me of Kauai in terms of their ocean views and majestic, verdant mountains spilling down to the sea when you turn around. Just a great day and time.

I’m off to Whitsunday, its islands and the Great Barrier Reef today. Really looking forward to it. I’ll post again after my visit there.