Merry Christmas!

Hi folks!  We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This blog will be on hiatus for a few weeks while we're on holiday in New Zealand.  Check back around 10 January 2011 for updates on our adventures with the Kiwis.    Doesn't feel like the holidays, but we'll try and make due in the 75 degree weather.    Love and miss you all dearly!!

(It's not Rockafeller Center, but its the closet thing we can find in Sydney. Tree is located in Martin's Place in the CBD) 

Joanne's Walk to Work

After moving out of the hotel and losing the 4 minute commute to work, I had to make a decision on what method of transportation to use.  Either a 20 minute commute via subway or a 30 minute walk.  I’ve tried both out and decided to walk!  It’s quite refreshing in the morning to climb up and down the many steps of Sydney, avoid the crammed subway trains, and walk through the botanical gardens.  I think I made the right decision! The Butler Steps below are my great workout on the way home. 

Reminds of Positano, Italy which Leigh I know you appreciated those never ending steps!

17 December - 19 December 2010

Sorry folks no pictures from the weekend, it was fairly quiet, or what I like to think of as the calm before the storm (NZ). We booked some exciting adventures for our up and coming trip to New Zealand, went shopping in the CBD, and partied it up in style in a penthouse with ridiculous views (thanks to our fabulous friend Ambreen!).  Highlight of our weekend was definitely being able to order a bottle of wine in the movie theater.  We saw the King’s Speech, which we highly recommend. 

Scenes from the weekend, cont

Sunday 12 December

I’m not quite sure if the beauty of Bondi was the beach itself or the fact that its December and we’re in our swimmers.  Regardless, it’s a place to see/visit and great for people watching. Dan is adopting the 4 buttons down look.

Scenes from the weekend, cont

Saturday 11 December

Time to become more adventurous.  We went up to the Blue Mountains (2hrs via train) and spent the day “bushwalking”.  The mountains are massive, widespread and really earn its Blue name. Check out the picture below of the leaves, they give off a silvery blue color.  Dan had some trouble with the heights, especially one part where you had to walk across a beam bridge with nothing below you. We walked about 900 steps down and 900 up.  Pretty exhausting coming back up, but the views were well worth it.  In the end we treated ourselves to a create your own hot chocolate.  

Scenes from the weekend

Friday 10 December

Dinner and drinks with friends.  Went to Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point.  No menus, only a waitress and a blackboard.  Joanne ate her entire dish of Spaghetti Norma and Dan also ate all his Dentice Finocchio (steak).   Great atmosphere and wine.  Continued the night on to the Gazebo Wine Garden. 

Joanne's New Obsession

Spicy Salmon Roll!

I can't get enough of it, there's an awesome food court (Westpac Plaza Food Court) right next to the KPMG office that has to die for sushi.  It comes as a hand held wrap where you would normally get about 4 pieces and a mini packet of soy sauce shaped like a fish. 

Scenes from the weekend, cont

Sunday, 5 December  – We laid low (probably because we were too hung over to function) by heading to Rushcutters Bay Park down the road from us, soaked up the sun, and enjoyed the people watching. Did you catch the Toucan Sam bird in the trees?

Scenes from the weekend, cont

Saturday, 4 December -  Overcast day. Dan went golfing on the banks of Bondi beach.  Learning the conversion of meters to yards would have been helpful beforehand. Regardless, he shot decently but ended up getting really burned..it was a good afternoon all round.   Joanne spent her afternoon in Redfern at the Finders Keepers Market (http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/12/sydney-markets-tonight-tomorrow).  It was amazzzingg, tons of stalls filled with art, crafts, and fashion (bought the black shirt below).  Ended the trip by buying ‘noce e blu’ pasta sauce with macadamia nuts, gorgonzola, and spices; looking very forward to making it for dinner this week.  Later in the night we had our first house guests, Annie and Joe : )  In a matter of hours we drank 5 bottles of wine, shots of sake and filled up on an assortment of Japanese food.   

Scenes from the weekend

Friday, 3 December –  Grabbed some yummy meat & veggie pies (first authentic Australian food) from Harry’s Cafe de Wheels.  We splurged by getting the ‘Tiger’ which was served with mush peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  Then spent the night walking around the botanical gardens, sat by the water and watched the boats go under the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  Night wouldn’t be complete without trying out a new pub and some local beers. So we checked out Woollomooloo Bay Hotel where we had Vale Ale and Fat Yak Pale Ale, delicious.

Working hard for the $$

Dan has been working hard from his office (see below) researching our “holiday” to New Zealand, joining getalife.com.au and of course doing a really good job getting his resume out in the field. He’s been getting some positive feedback. Joanne being a true accounting nerd got excited when she found the KPMG office (see below) which is located next to some great bars and restaurants along the King Street Wharf.