OK so the title is tenuous but this day has so many facets I can’t single one out, so let’s focus on the only international palindrome of the century - 02022020 - pretty amazing eh? Another comes along in just less than 102 years - 12122121.
We start by taking an early wander around Pyrmont, firstly retracing our steps from two weeks ago, before extending it around a few more wharfs, until we find a lovely café nestled in between the warehouses turned fancy apartment buildings, and we stop to have a lovely breakfast of Avo Toast on black bread with poached duck egg and heirloom tomatoes - it’s just divine, we’re joining the yuppie set now!!
Continuing out wharfy wander we pass under the ANZAC bridge and back to the Sydney fish market, never imagining it might be open on a Sunday morning but amazed to find it a hive of activity - clearly a wonderful place to be, people literally streaming out with bags of provender and many more inside frequenting the stalls and eateries. Fish & Chips for breakfast is new to us but clearly not to Sydneysiders.
From here it’s a short walk back to the Ovolo to shower and finally pack for our flights. The hotel is quick to fix a rapid taxi and before long we’re in the lounge waiting for the first leg of our journey home.
It has to be said this is a somewhat contentious route given the current worldwide health issues surrounding Coronavirus but I’ve contacted our travel agent and she assures me there’s no problem. Why? Because we’re travelling Air China via Taipei which some (including UK Gov) consider to be part of China. Of course the Taiwanese themselves might disagree so it’s kind-of complicated!!
Sydney airport is positively agreeable, no queues and very modern and even the duty free is a pleasant experience - I check out Penfolds Grange, Dom Perignon, Henschke and several others we’re familiar with before buying nothing, and then heading up to the lounge for the best chicken and sweet corn soup ever.
I’m writing and Husband is editing for ages until we have to find our plane, a brand new Airbus 350 which is really nice on several levels. It’s got no central overhead bins so the cabin feels very roomy, there are cute little coach-lamps like used to appear on Pullman carriages, there are so many cupboards and compartments plus a huge space for stretching ones legs, and the best slippers ever!!
Service a little below par, no champagne before take off and ages before it eventually arrives with the starter, then main course arrives about a minute later (we send it back) but eventually they accept the annoying demands of the only farangs (westerners) and try their best to keep us happy - i.e. keep our glasses full!!
It’s a bumpy ride and we have three-point seatbelts like cars, only seen before on the Qantas leg to Perth - maybe it’s an Aussie thing? Pity the people behind who keep getting shouted at for standing up when the seatbelt sign is on, we don’t have that rule thankfully.
Service on Air China is everything I remember from previous times, wildly eccentric but always with smiles. The lunch and later snack are both really good. After 9 hours we’re hitting Taipei and we have a few hours here until we head for Amsterdam.
I should really rename this entry as Mask Day, since most of the people on the flight were wearing them, including nearly all the flight attendants. Arriving in Taipei that number is up above 99%, indeed the few random westerners are the only ones not using a mask. Having checked this out, apparently there’s no benefit to wearing a regular mask, only a properly fitted surgeons mask will help, and these are hard to wear as the restricted breathing is uncomfortable.
It’s after 03:00 on Monday for us, still on Sydney time in our heads, we’re tired and fed up - but soon the flight will board, and I hope sleep will follow - we have thirteen hours to while away until we change again at Amsterdam for the short hop home.
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