I’m splitting Dec. 31 into two posts because we did so much it feels like too much for one post!

We started our last day of 2019 with a lazy morning at the apartment gathering our things and made some breakfast. Then we headed off to the shopping center to get some groceries for the day and to purchase a beach towel. After many successful purchases we headed back to the apartment to drop everything off.

We then packed two bags, a beach bag and a snack bag for our beach day! Then we headed back out the door for the hour long train ride to Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous beach and very popular. This half-mile long beach can be completely packed with people so we didn’t know what to expect.

When we got off the train at Bondi Junction we stopped at the shopping center here to pick Jacob up a hat. This seven-story shopping center was a bit of a maze. We first tried Target for hats but they didn’t have any Jacob liked. I saw the Cancer Council and remembered this store from an episode of Conan when he travels to Australia. They sell all sorts of sun clothing and proceeds go to cancer research. We ended up there and they had an excellent selection of hats! Jacob got a hat and I did too. Jacob even gave another $5 donation. The cashier there was so friendly and helpful. She even cut the tags off our hats so we could wear them right away.

We were now officially set for beach time! From the shopping center we walked Bondi Road taking in all the little shops and cafes. It definitely had that beach feel to it. And then we arrived to the magnificent white sandy beaches of Bondi.

We just stood there a moment to take in the scope of it and then searched for a good spot to plop on the sand. I have never seen such beautiful, clean, white sand before!

After we had thoroughly applied sunscreen, Jacob used the backpack as a pillow and laid back. We just took in the sunshine and the blue skies. It was so relaxing. I’m pretty sure we could have stayed there all day. It was during this amazing relaxation time that Jacob said, “When we travel to places like this it reminds me how terrible our weather is.” Agreed.

After a little bit we ate some snacks and then we packed up so we could walk along the Coastal Walk. This walk stretches along the coastline and connects several beaches including Bronte and Tamarama Beach. Our first interesting site along the walk was the Iceberg Pools. These pools are year-round use outdoor pools right along the water. A little further on we stopped at Bronte beach so I could put my feet in the water and then we saw the Waverly Cemetery. This cemetery is massive and along the cliffs looking to the water. It was so eerie and cool.

The views along the coast were so beautiful, but we had to start heading back to our hotel so we cut along through the middle of the neighborhood.

When we were along the coast we had a nice cool breeze, but once we walked into the neighborhood the air wasn’t moving and we could feel the full force of the 90-degree weather. I thought I wasn’t going to make it back to the train station, but just as I thought I couldn’t go a step longer, we made it!

We took the train back to our hotel. I got some dinner in the oven. We took showers to get the sand off of us and then changed into warmer clothes. The wind had shifted and brought in a cool breeze. We wanted to make it back out the door by 8 p.m. so we could try to make the 9 p.m. fireworks. Will we make it!? Find out in my next blog.

Until then!