We woke up to beautiful blue skies this morning.  It was a perfect day to take two well-known tramps around Sydney.  We started off at Coogee Beach to walk the popular four mile cliff-top coast walk between Coogee  & Bondi Beaches.  The views of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beaches provided the backdrop for some amazing photos.   It happened to be the day after the annual 2- week “Sculptures on the Sea” exhibit.  The beaches are beautiful and the walk reminiscent of southern California beach walks-particularly the Manhattan to Palos Verdes esplanade walk.  The beach was certainly enhanced by this seaside art gallery filled with sculptures that hadn’t been removed yet.  The crowds were a little heavier because of the exhibit.

We were anxious to see Bondi Beach; as, Alexander spent his entire junior year at Boston College attending the University of New South Wales and living in Bondi Beach.   (With all the health issues concerning Lesley’s parents, we never got to visit Alexander during his Australian junket.  Oh, we mean studies)  After lunch on Bondi, we took the bus back to Sydney and caught another bus north to Manly to walk the 6- mile “Spit to Manly” coast walk.  The trail was quite varied between sand, wood & stone steps & some platforms along with a variety of flora and fauna.  The stone steps often looked like they had be installed by a medieval stonemason’s incompetent apprentice.   There were lots and lots of steps on this hike.  There were plenty of great vantage points to be found along the track offering spectacular views across the Sydney Harbor.  After three bus rides (There are no ferries that go to Congee due to it’s ocean front location.) and 10 miles of walking, we ferried back to Circular Quay in Sydney from Manly Bay on the big green and yellow double decker “slow boat”.  It was a glorious day.