L&L Archives: Sydney, Day 6

Then

Day six started with a ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly Beach. The Manly Fast Ferry takes about twenty minutes and costs roughly $10 AUD each way. Most importantly, I did not get seasick or vomit, which meant the day was already off to a strong start.

When you get off the ferry, you land at East Manly Cove, and from there it’s about a seven-minute walk to the beach. The weather was absolutely perfect, which meant the beach was completely packed. Towels everywhere. Peak beach energy.

I laid my towel down and was ready to get in the water until I noticed a jellyfish on the bank by the water. That stopped me. I watched it for a bit, debated my options, and eventually asked the lifeguard what the situation was. He told me, very casually, that those jellyfish were fine and I could swim near them, but if I saw blue ones with long tentacles, I should stay far away. Extremely comforting information.

I got in the water and survived.

The rest of the afternoon was exactly what I needed: reading, swimming, grabbing lunch, and somehow stumbling into yet another market. At this point, I just accepted that markets were part of the trip whether I planned for them or not.

Eventually, I took the ferry back home, changed, and headed out to Surry Hills for dinner at La Salut, a Spanish wine bar and restaurant. I love The Grounds of the City for breakfast, but hands down, this was the best dinner I had in Sydney. Yes, the portions were small and yes, it was expensive, but every dish was so packed with flavor that I genuinely didn’t care. If I hadn’t been sitting directly in front of the chefs, I would have licked the plates clean.

The weather, the food, the ocean, the relaxation! Everything about the day just worked.

Now

This day stands out because of how easy it felt. No pressure to do more, see more, or optimize anything. Just good weather, salt water, and a really excellent meal at the end of it.

It’s the kind of day I think about when I remember how good life can feel when you let it be simple.