Ouch
Categories: friends, australia
Date: 02 January 2008 10:25:33
Despite applying liberal amounts of SPF30+ sunblock, I am rather red. And sore. Thanks be to God for the aloe vera plant in the backyard: it has soothed the redness and the heat a bit.
I went with several friends, and friends-of-friends, to The Entrance yesterday, for a day of eating and of sitting on and swimming in the beach. It was a very pleasant day, and there was plenty of fun to be had at the beach. I am not a big beach person, the easily-burning is one factor, but I did enjoy yesterday. We ate lunch at a friend's parents' apartment: they are literally minutes from the beach.
Juan, originally from Spain and here for the wedding, and a short holiday, was amazed at the roughness of the Australian surf when compared to beaches on the Mediterranean. The waves were especially large yesterday due to various storm activity, which resulted in many Sydney beaches being closed over the past few days.
The Entrance is a lovely place, only about 100km north of Sydney, so very popular for a day or weekend away. One thing you can't help but notice is the pelicans: they are everywhere. Even perched atop street lights! In the late afternoon, those who wanted to fish made their way into the water -- all lined up in a row.
If you are in need of a laugh, my last visit to the beach before this one, where I "played" volleyball, and I quote that word for a reason, can be seen here:
New Year's Eve was wonderful: spent with friends, and friends-of-friends from England, in the apartment of two friends in the city. Great view of the Harbour Bridge for the fireworks [though my opinion of fireworks, particularly Sydney's over-extravagance, is probably left unsaid]. It was a great evening with friends [and a pet rabbit]; lovely food, particularly sweets; and the odd drink. Good fun.