Currently back home!
We got to Barcelona early yesterday after getting a late flight from Singapore via Doha.
Today we got the metro to the Cathedral where we met up with friends who had come out to see us. Sam and Martha were really happy to see familiar faces after such a long time away.
We had some lunch and then walked over to one of Barcelona’s beaches for a paddle in the water and stone skimming.
It’s time to leave Australia (again) and continue on our journey. We’ve had a great time catching up with friends and enjoying the warm weather and the beaches. We started on the West Coast and then crossed the continent to spend Christmas on the East Coast. We left Australia for a month and then returned for 2 weeks.
When we returned to Australia and arrived in Sydney, the rain was torrential. However we were pleased that it was raining. Sydney’s heaviest rains in 30 years had helped extinguished many of the fires that had been raging for the past few months. It had also helped replenish water supplies after years of drought.
I liked swimming in the sea in M00loolaba because the water was warm and there were huge waves. It was the first time I had swam in deep sea. I also enjoyed my surfing lesson and my birthday party in Perth and Christmas on the beach.
Sam
I liked sandboarding on the sand dunes and the surfing lesson. I enjoyed seeing my friend in Perth and swimming in the sea on the Sunshine Coast.
Martha
I enjoyed catching up with friends in Perth and Bondi Beach. I loved Lancelin Lodge YHA on the West Coast. The Sunshine Coast beaches were gorgeous and the Australian Open was a great experience.
Angela
It was great returning to Australia after so many years. The East Coast was beautiful, as was the West but in a different way. It was good to see Melbourne again. And we had such a relaxing time staying in Bondi, despite the rains.
Mike
On our last day in Bondi (and Australia!), I went for an early morning run along the Bondi to Bronte Coastal route. The route starts at Bondi Beach and then follows the coast along the cliffs to Bronte Beach. The views were amazing.
When I got back, we all went down to the beach one last time.
After 2 days of heavy rain the weather cleared and we went down to Bondi Beach. The strong tide had washed sand up on to the promenade. The sea was still very rough and the water was a bit chilly but that didn’t stop the many surfers enjoying the waves.
Tonight I took another evening stroll and walked along Flinders Street, past the station and towards Southern Cross Station, or Spencer Street Station as I had known it. This was the station I came in to when I used to commute into the centre for work, 11 or so years ago.
I then walked up and along Bourke Street bridge, following my old route to work as I headed towards my workplace at the Telstra Dome (now called Marvel Stadium). I remember the bridge but didn’t recognise the rest of the area so I assume there has been lots of new developments since I was last there. It was good to be back though. I enjoyed living and working in Melbourne all those years ago!
We had a relaxing day today after last night’s late one and had a nice stroll in the evening.
In the morning I went for a walk around the streets near our apartment to take a look at some of Melbourne’s street art. There’s some pretty good stuff!
Update: Just read about how ‘A group of people wearing masks spray-painted over street art‘ on the very street I took these pictures. I’m glad I took a lot of photos!