QUICK HARBOR TOUR

A QUICK HARBOUR TOUR
Sept. 5 2000

This afternoon after office, Paul drive us through the Rock Village, where convicts pitched their tents in 1788, that brought a multicultural college of arts, crafts, music, food and entertainment to the upper end of George street. But before coming to Rock Village, Paul brought us to his previous apartment. He introduced us to his officemates whom he left when he moved to the new apartment. They were Pat, Conrey, Steve Sllazzo and James Foot.

Back to the Rock Village, we strolled around and were amazed how the city could be kept so clean when so many people were roaming around and we haven’t seen anyone doing the cleaning. Anyway, from the Rock we walked to the Opera House. I counted 72 steps to reach the upper portion of the Sydney Opera. From the Opera House we went walking in the colds until we reached and ate at the City Extra restaurant, a popular 24-hour eatery.

TAKING THE RISK
Sept. 6, 2000

We decided to go out together to try a long walk along the Pacific Highway where Paul’s apartment was located. Apartments, condominiums, offices and many business establishments, line the highway. There were many trees and flowering plants not seen in the Philippines. The cold breeze gave a very comfortable fresh feeling. After we have gone a bit too far, we decided to sit and rest at a bus station while observing what buses were passing by.

A Greek couple came by, so we inquired on how we could reach the Town Hall. It so happened that they were going on the same direction to a place called Manly. Upon reaching the Town Hall, I Immediately spotted the already familiar Queen Victoria Building after having seen it several times with Paul. We entered and were met by attractive storefront lining the balconies of the magnificent building. I read that the building was originally the city’s produce market, but was restored in the 1980’s complete with Royal Clock Replica. I agreed with whoever said that it was now considered the world’s most beautiful mall.

Not knowing where to find a legitimate money changer we suddenly met Myla Cuevas, a nurse who had been working in the country for many years. She suggested and accompanied us to the Commonwealth Bank but unfortunately the bank was not in the business of exchanging currencies… and Myla have already left. As if an answer to our need of the moment, another Filipina, Vangie Smiler, puffed out of thin air. She worked in another bank but she kindly showed us a legitimate money changer, There we met three other Filipinas who were all in a hurry we didn’t even had a chance to say hello. After exchanging some currencies we went back to Queen Victoria Building to look for a travel agency office. We wanted to inquire about tours in Australia. We bought some fruits from the Supermarket nearby where two Filipinos were working. We decided ti try a quick lunch from among the many eateries lined at the elegant building. There was my favorite seafood consisting of shrimps, squid, fish and “lumpia” together with diet coke. Again we met a Filipina, Enriqueta Geronimo.

We considered it a feat that we were able to come back to Paul’s apartment without hassles. We fed several birds at the balcony. It gave us much joy that even birds seemed to be well disciplined in this country.