A stolen day

I went to Sydney last week to meet up with some old friends and by mistake I booked my flight to arrive a day earlier than they were due.  Decided not to change it but to see it as a sign that I could have a special day all to myself in Sydney!  I arrived down there about 11am and caught the train into the city.  It was very easy - just go in the lift from the airport and arrive on the platform.  Unfortunately the station I got off at did not have a lift but I only had a small case to haul up the stairs......after carting 20kgs around Europe a couple of years ago and encountering some very steep stairs, I am learning!!  At least in Italy, there were chivalrous gentlemen around to help, whereas I think your standard Aussie is not quite so helpful!
I stayed at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel which is right in the centre of the shopping part of town - it's also the Masonic Club - all a bit quaint and not a lot of space in my single room but all I needed.  There is a multi story building going up next door and I wsas pleased not to be given a room on that side.
Lovely afternoon shopping - bought a few essentials and then went to Aveda and had a neck and shoulder massage with some wonderful herbal lotion, followed by a cup of herbal tea, a shampoo, haircut and blowdry!  All very nice, except that they insisted on straightening my unruly hair which makes my head look a bit strange.  For years, people have known me by my full head of hair.

In the evening, I got the bus to central quay and then walked to the Opera House where I had dinner in an outdoor cafe and then enjoyed Shakespeare's Twelfth night.  It was very funny and well done - set in a modern setting with homeless people and a large mound of abandoned clothing.  Walked home and fell into bed exhausted by happy at midnight when I slept like a log for 7 hours for the first time in about 4 years!