September 23.
What a week!
From Brisbane, off to Melbourne on Tuesday. Wednesday all day meetings with clients. Thursday off to Sydney.
Yes, now I'm in Sydney. I arrived at 8pm Thursday night, went to a restaurant and was on the phone to Ireland so long in the restaurant they had to put a written note in front of me, "You have to order now because the kitchen is about to close."
Yes, I seem to have become one of those obnoxious business people with a cell phone surgically attached to my ear.
I managed to slip away at the early hour 4pm on Friday (Oh the luxury!) Off to meet some old friends I first met in Halifax.
H (I will use initials until I get permission to use names) came to Halifax two times to see his brother. I met the sister when she was in Halifax for Hurricane Juan. She didn't come for the Hurricane, but it was still a fun time. Gorgeous sunny days and lots of barbecue meat that had to be eaten. But that was (Holy cow!) 10 years ago. I digress...
Since I first learned that I was coming to Australia, H has been sending me suggestions and notes in text messages and emails. He asked me to meet him on Friday, "On Clarence between Market and King, opposite a brew pub."
Sounds mysterious. I'm intrigued.
After hugs and hellos, H slipped into a back lane and I followed. Around a corner into an alley dead end, past a burley fellow and down a grungy fire escape.
As he skipped down the stairs ahead of me, he said, "You should open the door to get the full effect." He stopped to let me move past.
Behind the door was a dark, brick-walled room, packed with people sitting at tables and drinking, the music rollicking. We walked into the darkness. The wall of the bar goes from one end of the club to another and is packed floor to ceiling with bottles, some only accessible by a sliding ladder. The five busy barmen all wear spotless white aprons and have handle bar mustaches, as if they stepped out of the prohibition era. Candles blinked on table tops, the conversation rose and fell around the music. If all the girls were wearing flapper dresses and the boys suits, we could have shot a movie set in the roaring twenties.
Did you know that Tasmania has whiskeys? Well, I had 2 Tasmanian whiskeys. The first was creamy caramel with hints of smoke. The second had a hard edge, not as winning, but still good.
Next stop, China Town where I ordered 3 lamb skewers cooked fresh on a charcoal barbecue. Spicy surprises, perfect for walking and eating.
Next, we were in the university area. We stopped in a student bar, complete with couches with missing springs. (Hiccup) Another beer.
Off we walked through the university (can't recall which one, will look it up) with carolling bells, sandstone courtyards, and the scent of old books everywhere.
Closer to H's home (we've now been walking for the better part of 2 hours - I get the idea he likes walking), we stopped at the Zanzibar and climbed the two flights of stairs to the rooftop. Finally I had a real opportunity to see the Australian sky and stars. It was a quarter moon, so only the brightest stars were visible, but it was still stunning. (Hiccup)
The evening ended at H's where sis, her hubby and two other friends were waiting. As we dined on an assortment of meats and cheeses, H made a lovely vegetable pasta dish to cap off the evening. I should have been thoughtful enough to bring dessert. Next time.
It was lovely to be a part of a conversation again after so many nights sitting alone in restaurants. To sit around a home table and particularly, to listen to talk of research and arguments over dog and cat genetics. I have some pics and will add if permission is received (and we don't look awful).
Saturday was a work day for me. Today I check out Sydney.
What a week!
From Brisbane, off to Melbourne on Tuesday. Wednesday all day meetings with clients. Thursday off to Sydney.
Yes, now I'm in Sydney. I arrived at 8pm Thursday night, went to a restaurant and was on the phone to Ireland so long in the restaurant they had to put a written note in front of me, "You have to order now because the kitchen is about to close."
Yes, I seem to have become one of those obnoxious business people with a cell phone surgically attached to my ear.
I managed to slip away at the early hour 4pm on Friday (Oh the luxury!) Off to meet some old friends I first met in Halifax.
H (I will use initials until I get permission to use names) came to Halifax two times to see his brother. I met the sister when she was in Halifax for Hurricane Juan. She didn't come for the Hurricane, but it was still a fun time. Gorgeous sunny days and lots of barbecue meat that had to be eaten. But that was (Holy cow!) 10 years ago. I digress...
Since I first learned that I was coming to Australia, H has been sending me suggestions and notes in text messages and emails. He asked me to meet him on Friday, "On Clarence between Market and King, opposite a brew pub."
Sounds mysterious. I'm intrigued.
After hugs and hellos, H slipped into a back lane and I followed. Around a corner into an alley dead end, past a burley fellow and down a grungy fire escape.
As he skipped down the stairs ahead of me, he said, "You should open the door to get the full effect." He stopped to let me move past.
Behind the door was a dark, brick-walled room, packed with people sitting at tables and drinking, the music rollicking. We walked into the darkness. The wall of the bar goes from one end of the club to another and is packed floor to ceiling with bottles, some only accessible by a sliding ladder. The five busy barmen all wear spotless white aprons and have handle bar mustaches, as if they stepped out of the prohibition era. Candles blinked on table tops, the conversation rose and fell around the music. If all the girls were wearing flapper dresses and the boys suits, we could have shot a movie set in the roaring twenties.
Did you know that Tasmania has whiskeys? Well, I had 2 Tasmanian whiskeys. The first was creamy caramel with hints of smoke. The second had a hard edge, not as winning, but still good.
Next stop, China Town where I ordered 3 lamb skewers cooked fresh on a charcoal barbecue. Spicy surprises, perfect for walking and eating.
Next, we were in the university area. We stopped in a student bar, complete with couches with missing springs. (Hiccup) Another beer.
Off we walked through the university (can't recall which one, will look it up) with carolling bells, sandstone courtyards, and the scent of old books everywhere.
Closer to H's home (we've now been walking for the better part of 2 hours - I get the idea he likes walking), we stopped at the Zanzibar and climbed the two flights of stairs to the rooftop. Finally I had a real opportunity to see the Australian sky and stars. It was a quarter moon, so only the brightest stars were visible, but it was still stunning. (Hiccup)
The evening ended at H's where sis, her hubby and two other friends were waiting. As we dined on an assortment of meats and cheeses, H made a lovely vegetable pasta dish to cap off the evening. I should have been thoughtful enough to bring dessert. Next time.
It was lovely to be a part of a conversation again after so many nights sitting alone in restaurants. To sit around a home table and particularly, to listen to talk of research and arguments over dog and cat genetics. I have some pics and will add if permission is received (and we don't look awful).
Saturday was a work day for me. Today I check out Sydney.
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