Living Sydney

I should probably begin with apologising for not giving an update for such a long time. After all, the whole purpose of a travel blog is that you actually blog and let your family and friends know what you are up to.  Well, there is a reason for it.  And it starts with the fact that I am still in Sydney.   After having moved down south quite fast to escape the rain and find the distractions of a busy city, my travel pattern has taken a turn.   I handed in the camper, my soulmate for almost two weeks, and rented a room through Airbnb for a week to allow myself enough time to explore everything that Sydney has to offer.  And it does!!!  So of course I have visited the usual suspects as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach but I also just wanted to get a feel of what it would be like to live in a city that is on the top 10 most attractive cities to live in the world.   I do understand why it is on this list.  The quality of life, although expensive, is very good here.   The city center is grand, with its high rise and endless shopping, but as it is surrounded by the water and harbours it never feels too congested.  It does feel very British, just like Hong Kong and Singapore. It actually made me realise how influencial they have been all over the globe and left their permanent marks in architecture and infrastructure. So it has a northern European feel to it but then with a much nicer climate (even though I seem to be experiencing the worst rainfall in 42 years). However, taking the aside, the best part is having the ocean right on your doorstep. And the scenery drops from the city to laid-back surf town. I can only imagine how it must be to come back from work on friday evening knowing that you'll be riding the waves in your back garden the next day.   It is a city to you can just be in and let the days go from one to the next.

And so it has.......

Last weekend I went to Blue Mountains, a national park about 100km west of the city and spend two days hiking, abseiling and canyoning.  Very cool and after the abseiling experience I can officially confirm I have a fear of heights!!!!  That first moment of letting yourself fall over the edge and being face to face with the enormous drop into the valley and there is nothing but a small harass and rope preventing you from falling is killing. But also thrilling so I am pretty sure it won't be my last. 

Then I met up with an old classmate of mine from my hotel management school who I found by luck through Facebook.  By chance she is only starting a new work assignment in a few weeks and therefore had the time to show me the "local" Sydney city life.   

The big question is.....what will be next???  And I actually don't know yet.   It is a typical Sunday and I am sitting in my second Airbnb place now, rainy and ONLY 18 degrees, contemplating my plans.   The adventure and stress of being on the move has been substituted by a slower paced city experience.   Unfortunately I feel short of inspiration and anxiety for any particular new destination.  That makes it a bit tough and I have given myself just another 2 days to make some decisions or where, when and how.   Sydney has been good but it is time to move on.  

So next time I write will be as much as surprise to you as it is to me.....