Sydney Day 4

A birthday card from Victor and his friend featuring cool cats. Nice.

I am travelling today to Parramatta and there are options, bus, no thank you, suburban train, the BMT which is the limited express Blue Mountains Train, or ferry up the Parramatta River. I chose the BMT and it was quite a fast trip to Parramatta. I caught a 440 bus to Central and I had to find the platform for the train. Central is a confusing station but the signage is excellent and as the train departed, Mortuary Station came into view. It hasn't been used for the named purpose since early twentieth century. 

Parramatta Square was quite pleasant, with St John's Church surrounded by a nice lawn.

I bought food and coffee at the Bourke Street Bakery, obviously an offshoot from the famous Bourke Street Bakery in Surry Hills. 

It was quite a pleasant space.

The Parramatta Rat Haus. I was telling the lads today as I am writing about this about the German name for a town hall. Phyllis told me the German name for ambulance, but I've forgotten

One reason for visiting Parramatta was to see its new tram line, the L4,  without a connection to the city.

It was a bit interesting in that it is powered partly by overhead wires and partly by battery. It is rather slow though.

 

It was a decent, and interesting walk in quite warm weather once I was back at Parramatta Square to the ferry terminal. God help you if you didn't have map or google. I saw no signage. I should have stayed on the tram for at least one more stop.

The ferry arrived at the Parramatta terminus, and turned around in the wide river basin. The ferries are part of the public transport system, so touching on your Opal card pays for your fare.

With earthen river banks, the ferry's speed is restricted until it reaches the walled river banks, whereupon it speeds up quite a bit.  

An interesting building along the way. Sister called me to wish me happy birthday and asked if I was on a ferry? How did you know, I replied. Well, that's what you do in Sydney.

We once lunched at the Sydney Rowing Club in Abbotsford, with Victor. This is not a flattering view of the rather nice establishment from near the river wharf. 

What is thing called love? Or what is this thing called, love? Or what is This Thing called, love?

Some colourful housing.

The ferry called at Barangaroo before my intended destination, Circular Quay. I decided to bail and see the new Barangaroo Metro Station.

I think the development of Barangaroo is quite good, from a wharf that used to be called The Hungry Mile. It was a decent walk from the ferry terminal to Barangaroo Metro Station, but mostly shaded 

I think Barangaroo was my favourite new Metro Station, but there were still a few to see, and see them I will.

I caught the M1 to Martin Place and then a bus home.

Dinner was again at the Thai restaurant at the base of the hotel, and I then dealt with all the kind birthday wishes on FB with a 'Like' on their sweet messages.