Up Above Down Under

Today, as planned and needed, was a low key day. I never even had a cup of coffee. I did, though, have a juice drink. They do good things with juices today and today's mix was watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe (what they call rock melon). Yummy. As with most transactions, it included a lengthy, friendly chat.

When I finally left my room some time after 10, I went into the jewelry store next door. Too expensive to buy from, but worth the visit to see the Aurora Australis, the largest black opal ever found. Just beautiful.

Then I took a cab up to the end of the retail section of Pitt Street. My hotel is at the other end. Found a couple of shops I was looking for. Checked out a Woolworth's which was much like the ones I remember in Germany with general merchandise on the upper floors and a grocery in the basement.

Next stop was the Queen Victoria Building or QVB. While photographing the statue of the queen outside what used to be the city's central market, I heard a recorded voice. Looking around, I saw a fountain with a statue of a small dog. He was the one who was talking. His name, he said, was Islay and he was the favorite of the queen. If I would throw a coin in the fountain as a donation to a humane society, he would thank me. Like most dogs, Islay knew a sucker when he saw one and I was rewarded with, "Arf. Arf. Thank you."

Lunch was in the Sydney Tower. Like other revolving tower restaurants, the food wasn't great, but in this case there was good value because it was an all-you-can-eat buffet. Nothing spectacular, but a good variety. Cold seafood (explaining the finger bowls), various roasts, a few Asian foods, and a variety of desserts. The view was spectacular and included the Olympic Stadium and Botany Bay.

Walking back to the hotel, I stopped at one last opal store. This one advertises that it has a opalized dinosaur and they tell the truth. It may be a fairly small dinosaur, but it is nearly completely opalized. Just amazing.

It was very cold here today. I've been told however that it will be warmer down south which doesn't exactly make sense to me. We'll see. Internet access may not be as easy, so don't be surprised if my posts become more sporadic.