For those that are interested, the Pope is arriving in Sydney today. I'm not a Catholic and although I respect his position and can understand how much it means to his followers, I wonder if he knows what a furor his visit is having on the everyay lives of Sydney siders. Many people who work in the City of Sydney have been advised not to go to work this week as many major roads are closed. The Pope is here for the celebration of World Youth Day. Also apparently to apologise to church sexual abuse victims in Oz.

Anyway, there was I, driving off to work this morning at 9am - many miles from the City. I was thinking how lucky I was not to have to deal with the traffic in the city today due the Popes arrival. Well, I couldn't believe it when suddenly I was faced with hundreds of police and security men as I drove by Richmond Air Base. Yes, you guessed it the Pope is arriving there not at the main Sydney Airport. So when I leave work this arvo I will be lucky if I can get home. There is only one road to my home and it happens to pass the air base.

I hope the Pope has a great visit though, I wonder if he would love to dip his toes down at Bondi Beach, climb the harbour bridge and maybe do all the fun things rather than be here for his serious duties LOL
Bernice

Well almost a year ago I planned a visit tomorrow to Circular Quay to have a look at the boat that we'll be going on in October, didn't know about the Pope's visit at the time. The Sun Princess, the biggest boat to pass under the harbour bridge but this time it will be at the International Terminal rather than Wharf 8 which is being refurbished. Anyway I'm still going but I'll only be using public transport.

I hope the trains are still running. We saw the proposed strike looming this week.
I would imagine the good people of Sydney are rather fed up of all the disruptions, wasnt it CHOGA or some other world leaders gathering last year that saw major disruption to the city.

We did see 'Chasers War on Everything 'and how he posed as Bin Larden and almost made it through to the Hotel George Bush was staying at.

Good luck to you both in trying to get around this week.

Wallace

The rail strike has been settled but closing the bridge will cause some a problem, it seems to happen quite a lot lately, sometimes without warning. Last time I think was when VP Cheney visited and he wanted to go for a drive. We had several closures during the Olympics. So glad that I now only visit the city when I want to. It is not supposed to start until Tuesday but we hear that many streets are closed off already.

Is the rumour true that the Pope is dropping in on the Big Brother house??

They had Pamela Anderson this week. Now there would be a combination??

Sheelagh

I did go down to Sydney yesterday, it was a marvellous trip, heaps of room on the trains, the shops were quite empty and many streets were closed to traffic. I was honestly expecting the worst from the police after the reports from the last high secure event that they were responsible for, very pleasantly surprised, those that I saw were most polite and helpful and if they carry on that way all will go well. Managed to get a few pics of the boat that I went to have a look at, seemed to be quite big, here's a look:



This boat normally pulls up around the corner where there is a lot more room but its wharf is being refurbished at the moment.

I had a walk around the terminal and it was quite interesting to see the supplies being delivered. There was a queue of a dozen very big trucks waiting to unload, one of the chaps told me they expected about 50 trucks to make deliveries that day.

Thats a very nice shot Nigel..

You have caught a true Sydney wharf scene.

regards Wallace

great shot Nigel, wow that's one big boat!
Bernice

Sorry Nigel that is a ship NOT a boat,' you can put a boat in a ship but you cannot put a ship in a boat'

Can you see the old ferry in Nigel's photo? Its the old green and cream one in the right hand corner. I use to catch one of those to the city every morning for about a year. It was the nicest way to travel to work, sailing along around Sydney harbour, close up and personal with the harbour bridge and the opera house. I use to have to pinch myself as I couldn't believe I was living in such a beautiful City. Any way, some mornings on this ferry we would get free muffins and coffee, usually if there had been one of the very many ferry accidents that we seemed to get at that time.I think the free food was a PR job LOL. Come to think of it there hasn't been too many ferry crashes of late - they must have got new captains aboard.
Anyway, if anyone is thinking of coming to Sydney - you have to have a ferry ride, it really is the best way to see the harbour.
Bernice

That's a magnificent looking SHIP Nigel. Be a reet toff on there I think, I can just imagine all the food that might be on offer. Reckon you might put on a few kilos in a couple of weeks??

Sheelagh

Bernice, been there done that about 20 years ago, we did the Circular quay - Manly and return trip, left in the daylight and returned as it started to get dark, a great trip.
Our first trip there was in January 1968 aboard the SS Orcades on our was to NZ, the "Face" at Luna Park fascinated me, is it still there or has the place closed, I seem to remember reading something along those lines.
Syd

auschick wrote:
... Reckon you might put on a few kilos in a couple of weeks??

Sheelagh

On the last couple of cruises we came back lighter because we did so many shore excursions with lots of walking. This time there are about six days at sea so we apart from walking round and round the deck there won't be a lot to do, it also has three 24 hour eating places.