Aussie maths (and pommie navigation)
Sep. 19th, 2010 04:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dormouse1953Bondi Beach is one of those exotic place names. My guide book seemed to suggest it was some distance from the centre of Sydney, involving a long train and bus trip. But when I looked at the map, it seemed to be only about 4 km east of my hotel, hardly a long walk. (And I like walking.) And about half the distance involved a large park, which could be pleasant to walk through. Ideal for a Sunday stroll, I thought.
East along Oxford Street until I reached Moore Park, then south to skirt round a complex containing the Sydney football and cricket grounds and the Fox Studios and into Centennial Park. Having reached Centennial Park, my plan was to head towards the south-east corner of the park and then head east to Bondi Beach. At some point, I realised the sun was in front of me, it was about noon, so I was heading south. Eventually I'd reach the southern edge of the park and I could turn left to get to the south-east corner.
I can't believe I did that! Imagine my surprise when I found myself back on Oxford Street, which ran along the northern edge of the park. As it happens, Oxford Street then runs along to the suburb (and shopping centre) of Bondi Junction, and it's a short walk from there (for me) down to the beach. And I knew I was on the right path when I saw people strolling along the shopping street wearing wet suits and carrying surf boards.
The beach was smaller than I expected (Google maps suggests it's about half a kilometer long). And it was crowded. Seeing it was still officially Australian winter, I can't imagine that big a crowd on a British beach at the end of February. (Actually, a few years ago I did find myself on Seaton Carew beach in the north of England on Boxing Day and it was crowded, but that was because there was a charity swim going on.)
But, curiously, it looks like an English seaside. OK, there were people surfing, and a group of young women playing beach volleyball (although maybe that is more common on British beaches these days), but there's something about the architecture of the buildings along the promenade that suggests British municipal buildings of the thirties to the fifties.
There's a central pavilion that looks so English. At a gift shop I got some postcards. And then I thought I'd stop in the the café for a cup of tea and a sandwich. $14, I was told. So I handed over a $20 note - and got $14 in change. I didn't complain.
It was warm enough and sunny enough to sit outside to eat, although I was wearing a fleece. A pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
I did decide to take the train back from Bondi Junction. Walking back from the beach, I was aware that I was climbing up a hill to the station. What is not apparent is that this hill forms the north edge of a ridge. You enter the bus and train station from the shopping precinct to the south and there's a large window in the north of the station giving a panorama of the eastern suburbs down to the estuary.
East along Oxford Street until I reached Moore Park, then south to skirt round a complex containing the Sydney football and cricket grounds and the Fox Studios and into Centennial Park. Having reached Centennial Park, my plan was to head towards the south-east corner of the park and then head east to Bondi Beach. At some point, I realised the sun was in front of me, it was about noon, so I was heading south. Eventually I'd reach the southern edge of the park and I could turn left to get to the south-east corner.
I can't believe I did that! Imagine my surprise when I found myself back on Oxford Street, which ran along the northern edge of the park. As it happens, Oxford Street then runs along to the suburb (and shopping centre) of Bondi Junction, and it's a short walk from there (for me) down to the beach. And I knew I was on the right path when I saw people strolling along the shopping street wearing wet suits and carrying surf boards.
The beach was smaller than I expected (Google maps suggests it's about half a kilometer long). And it was crowded. Seeing it was still officially Australian winter, I can't imagine that big a crowd on a British beach at the end of February. (Actually, a few years ago I did find myself on Seaton Carew beach in the north of England on Boxing Day and it was crowded, but that was because there was a charity swim going on.)
But, curiously, it looks like an English seaside. OK, there were people surfing, and a group of young women playing beach volleyball (although maybe that is more common on British beaches these days), but there's something about the architecture of the buildings along the promenade that suggests British municipal buildings of the thirties to the fifties.
There's a central pavilion that looks so English. At a gift shop I got some postcards. And then I thought I'd stop in the the café for a cup of tea and a sandwich. $14, I was told. So I handed over a $20 note - and got $14 in change. I didn't complain.
It was warm enough and sunny enough to sit outside to eat, although I was wearing a fleece. A pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
I did decide to take the train back from Bondi Junction. Walking back from the beach, I was aware that I was climbing up a hill to the station. What is not apparent is that this hill forms the north edge of a ridge. You enter the bus and train station from the shopping precinct to the south and there's a large window in the north of the station giving a panorama of the eastern suburbs down to the estuary.
