Australia 2017 - Day 57 – 20th April

Day 57

After a lazy start to the day Cerys and I went into the city.  Cerys wanted to go on a train so we caught a bus to Chatswood and then took the train into Sydney, changing at Wynyard for Circular Quay.  At Circular Quay we did what we usually do there. Walk around taking in all the sights.  Cerys was getting hungry so we went to our favourite, Buckleys, for lunch.

Her choice for lunch was a big bowl of fries with a lemonade.  Mine was fish and chips, probably too much as I was going out later for Dinner.

We stayed in there quite a while taking in all the life passing by just outside before we went across to the Ocean terminal to see the big cruise liner that was docked there which was due to leave this evening.

It is very impressive at the cruise liner terminal and the public are allowed in to see the ships before they sail.

We were so close to the ship, the Celebrity Solstice, that we could actually talk to people on their balconies. Cerys is smitten and now wants to go on a cruise.

Afterwards Justin met us at the ship and took Cerys home with him as I was staying in town to have dinner with Rebecca Roberts later. But first I went to the Guylian cafe for a coffee as it still early.

Later I made my way to the Glenmor Hotel at the top of the Rocks to meet up with Rebecca.  I was enjoying a schooner of Wild Yak cask Ale sat outside while I waited for her, but I did not have to wait long.

We then went up to the rooftop restaurant to grab a table.  We were very lucky because the place was pretty busy but we managed to find a table.  The views up here were spectacular and we were soon enjoying a lovely meal with a couple of bottles of wine.

Once the cruise liner we had been looking at earlier had left port we had a view right across to the Opera House.

At the end of our meal as darkness had set in, the fireworks began over Circular Quay.This signalled the end of the open air opera, Carmen,  in the bay opposite the Botanical gardens.

When we had finished here Becky suggested we visit a 'private' bar in Clarence street. I said yes of course and we set off, her with google maps on her phone walking in the general direction of the bar. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.

After she had tried a few doors she led on down an alleyway towards what appeared to be a bar at the end of it.

This is from inside looking towards Clarence Street

We found ourselves in what I can only sescribe as an industrial courtyard and there was a bar there, but not the one we were looking for. As we walked across the yard a man beckoned us over to a corner and said 'downstairs for the whisky bar'

So we entered the door walking past a bike on the landing and made our way downstairs.

When we reached the bottom we opened a door and what greeted us was truly amazing.  It was like something out of prohibition America with the biggest collection of whiskies I have ever seen.

We stayed there for an hour or so drinking whisky.  I was drinking Talisker Storm and Becky was sampling various different ones.  I must say I was very impressed with her prowess. Most blokes I know would have folded by now but she had one more pub for us to visit on the way home.

P J O'Brien

We popped into PJ O'Brien's for a last whisky, Irish this time, on the way home.  

We finally gave in and decided that it was time to call time, so we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways home.