New Years in Sidney

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On New Years Eve Jennifer and Stephen met with some friends from Edmonton and went to the fireworks display and street party at the Sidney Harbour. Jan and I watched the 9:00 "Family Fireworks" on TV, although we could see the light flashes in the sky behind the buildings beside us and hear them from our hotel. We were in bed by 10:30 asleep by 11 PM.

New Years Day Heat Wave

New Years Day was the second hottest day on record for New Years Day, 43.5 degrees celsius. Aside from its effect on us it had a significant effect on everyone. The train schedules were abandoned as trains were ordered to travel more slowly, because over 37 C the railway tracks can bend with the force of full speed trains and cause trains to derail!

We took a train in the morning to Circle Quay (pronounced "Key"), the main port where the Opera House is located and the Sidney Bridge, to take a seafood luncheon harbour cruise, without incident. At that point the air conditioning was keeping up. On our return, in mid afternoon, it was stifling in the train. The scenery was beautiful but the ship was hot because the air conditioning couldn't keep up, and the food was acceptable (maybe).

When we returned to the hotel we stayed in for the rest of the day in air conditioned comfort. Thank God there was no power failure! At about 6:30 PM we decided to go out for dinner. We planned to go to Darling Harbour a short monorail trip from the stop a block from our hotel. Darling Harbour has many excellent restaurants around a harbour centre with a wide paved promenade and is cooler because of the breezes off the harbour.

As we stepped out of the front of the hotel, the evening breezes were up. It was like being hit with a blast from a furnace. When we got to the monorail stop we were told the monorail was closed because it was too hot. We flagged down a cab and jumped in. The taxi driver told us it was still 42 degrees. Fortunately, his air conditioning was working. We had him take us to Harbourside the far side of Darling Harbour and then searched for the first restaurant that was cool inside. Cuisine was a secondary consideration.

After dinner we caught another taxi and had him take us on a tour includung driving across the Sidney Bridge.