The Ultimate Australian Summer
Little did I know that one day I would experience the true Australian dream.
Of course, I dreamt about it a lot; the lifestyle, the wilderness, the endless summer days. How could you not want to go?
Australia is one of those countries so unreachable, so far away but yet so attractive. So when my brave little sister told us she was going to spend a year there, I could not be happier. Just like me a few years ago, she fiercely took the leap.
I can’t help but reminiscing about my days and how alive I felt, discovering the world on my own, carefree.
So here I am, 7 years have gone by, and I am about to jump on a plane with my close family for what I would call a deep dive into a stress free journey of the soul.
5 girls, my girls, the ones that have always been there for me and one big city: Sydney.
After a long but exciting 24 hours plane journey, we finally made it to Sydney airport. So many emotions came in when we saw the little one waiting for us like she was a grown up. Damn, time flies and we missed her. Long gone are the tears when we first left her at the airport 6 months ago, now we are all smiling ready for our adventure.
We spent our first night in the city, in a massive penthouse we rented for the occasion. We would spend the first 5 days in Sydney. Here’s a glimpse of what it looked like.
Bondi to Coogee walk
Golden hour at the magnificent Sydney Opera house
Those first days were hectic, the time difference hit us hard. We decided to embrace the Australian lifestyle and woke up early everyday. This new routine was actually great, the city is so peaceful at 5am. When surfers go get their first wave, others order their first coffee. Waking up and going for a walk on the beach when no one is there is priceless. I felt so relaxed and in the moment. Like nothing else matters but me, my body and soul. What a great habit to have, no wonders why Australians seem so chilled.
We walked miles literally every single day under a burning sun. Between those endless paths we stopped few times for either a cold pressed juice, an avocado toast or a well deserved chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Life was good. All we cared about was the amount of sunscreen we needed to put on our skin, the next coffee shop we would stop at or what time was the next bus home. I am a firm believer that your environment can affect your mood, I was damn right. We felt lighter, happier and so much more aware.
Manly was the place where we spent most of our time. What a cute little city, you definitely get that beach town vibe, you can walk barefoot, get a cocktail on the pier, or some yummy tacos @Chica Bonita.
If you brave enough to walk 2 miles to get your breakfast, you can hit the @boathouseat Shelly beach, hands down to their fresh detox juices or seafood platter.
Here’s a few tips to make your Sydney journey smooth:
-Get your Opal card straight away, you can top up online easily. Buses are very convenient and easy to jump on.
– Get your Revolut card for hassle free & instant money transfer.
– Get ready to walk, walk a lot. The city is huge!
– The sun is no joke, SPF 50 is a must if you want to enjoy the rest of your trip.
– Taxes are included in the price when eating out. Tips are common but not mandatory.
– Sydney traffic can be quite daunting, make sure you plan accordingly.
Here’s a few recommended spots for food:
– $$$ Hugo’s Manly Pier
– $$ Daniel San
– $$ Jellyfish
– $$ Criniti’s
– $$ Muum Maam Thai
Sydney has a great food scene, even though we cooked at home most nights we indulged ourselves with some great food.
I have nothing but love for this city. And hopefully you will want to go to too.
To be continued…
Love
A.