Took the light rail/subway to Circle Quay (pronounced: Key) at the north end of the city next to the Opera House.  A return ticket was about $2.50.  Better than walking it (again).

Took a ferry across the bay to Taronga Zoo.  Due to a labor dispute action the ferries were free!  The ticket collectors decided not to sell or collect tickets - just sit and watch as people milled through the turnstyles.  We decided that if we had time, we'd take another ferry when we were done at the zoo - the only question being where to?
 

Taronga was mostly normal Zoo stuff - but lots of it was actually native here - saw Red Pandas.  They don't look much like Panda's - but they are red, and very cute.  Took many (too many?) pictures of them.

No luck finding lunch - couldn't find a place that both of us were interested in.  Bought a (baseball) hat.

Watched the free-flight raptor show, which was hijacked when the Eagle decided not to return to the handler for about 20 minutes - as the guy giving the show put it "she's an eagle, and she goes where she wants."

Returned to Circle Quay in the mid afternoon after a great day at the zoo.  On advice from some locals on the ferry we hopped another (free) ferry to Manley - a beach community across the bay from Sydney.
 
 

A small shopping district, and nice clean uncrowded beach.  The water was warm and clean - not sticky like CA beach water, and the sand was very fine and soft.  Even in the light rain people were swimming and body surfing.

Had an ice cream from Royal Copenhagen - good ice cream - but we got a bit of surprise - they don't add sugar to their whipped cream.  It's not bad, exactly, just not as sweat as we're used to.  Note to self - when they ask "do you want cream with that" they mean unsweatened whipped cream.

Walked into a local grocery store - Coles.  More the same than different - different brands, different product names for identical products, but mostly a grocery store.  Not as much variety, and "inferior" produce by Calfornia standards, but not much worse than the East Coast.  Living in one of the biggest vegetable producing states spoils one.

Took the ferry back to Sydney, and the train back to the central station.  Back to the hotel to change for dinner.

Asked the concierge for some Chinese resturant suggestions - he provided two, in walking distance in China Town.

We walked to one and rejected it -- too much live seafood for Dawnise's comfort.  As she put it "I don't like my food to have a face."

Decided to walk the outdoor market - had dinner at a reasonable looking resturant chosen while walking.  The food was good - the service was only OK.  Perhaps the medocre service is why tipping isn't expected (or visa-versa).

Had dessert in the market Dutch Potiferjes (sp?) - silver dollar pancakes  served with butter,  powdered sugar and choco. syrup.  Pretty good stuff.

Returned to the hotel and slipped into oblivion.
 

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