More of our recent, short trip to Sydney...

This is the view in one direction, from our motel room. As you can see, it is right in the middle of the city.

I could watch the planes in the distance, fly across that little patch of sky on their way to landing at Sydney Airport...

The next photo is looking in the other direction and looking down at Pitt St.

On our last full day, we rode on the monorail as it will be closed forever on June 30.

A view from the monorail...

The Queen Victoria Building as seen from the monorail....

Another lovely old building that we passed in the monorail...

The maritime Museum as seen from the monorail... Darling Harbour

 After travelling one circuit of the monorail route, we got off at the stop near the Queen Victoria Building and then had a wander through this magnificently restored building...

This is where we stopped for a coffee in the QVB

Then we went for a walk down the street from the QVB and came across some yarn bombing in a beautiful old arcade...

There were lots of trees wearing lovely striped jumpers! lol

 Then DH and I stopped off at Central station and viewed a display/exhibition of photos and memorabilia of the famous 'Southern Aurora' train which was a Melbourne-Sydney train.
From Central we caught the light rail...now this is where something so kind happened. You buy the tickets on the light rail and the conductor asked us whether we had one of the Seniors Concession, $2.50 tickets which you can buy at a number of outlets. We said no as when we have been in Sydney previously, you couldn't use concession tickets on the light rail. Well apparently that is changed now and you can now also use Seniors Business cards whereas before they weren't always accepted if you happened to get someone selling the tickets who went by all the rules. So...because the concession tickets can't be sold on the light rail, this conductor suggested that we get off at the next stop, buy 2 tickets at the '7-Eleven' store near there, and then catch the next tram/light rail. needless to say we did just that! lol

This is at one of the light rail stops...one of the many signs around Sydney which tell of the closure of the monorail service...

 We rode the light rail to the terminus at Lilyfield...you can see the city in the distance...

Back on to the light rail and this time we alighted at the Star Casino stop where we had lunch...

Then it was back to our accommodation for a little rest...because at 5pm we were meeting my nephew and his wife for an early dinner...
My nephew had chosen a very popular restaurant which specialises in dumplings, Din Tai Fung which was in George St. We were amazed by how many people (possibly 20!) were in the kitchen making the signature dumplings. So we  ordered a selection of dumplings as well as a chicken dish and some rice. It was all yummy and it was great to experience something a bit different. The young couple had to make their way another commitment so that was the reason for the early dinner. It was just as well we were early because when we left the restaurant just over an hour later, there was a big long queue of diners waiting for tables!

Chrissie and Gregg...

Next morning we left Sydney...here the plane is going over the northern beaches...

And here we are as our plane touched down in Brisbane!