A quick stop at L’Occitane in The Rocks to replace my two handbag hand creams. I’ve been out of my handbag Verbena for a few months now, and it was good to replenish this. The scent is unbelievable. As I am a member, and it was Bastille Day, you got an extra little bonus gift for saying a French word. Croissant was my choice. All those primary school french lessons paying off at last? Well no, because everyone knows Croissant. :)
We also visited the Rocks Markets which were so incredibly packed. I have never seen so many people try to navigate a small area like that before. It was essentially several single file queues moving slowly in between some market stalls. No photos, because it was insanity of the highest order. We were very glad to get out of there alive.
Back to Circular Quay then on the train to Central, then on the train to Parramatta. I was surprised at how easy Central was to navigate, considering it is a massive train station with lines going everywhere. 25 platforms is a bit more than I grew up with in Adelaide – where I think from memory we had 11 or 12, but really only the 4 lines and you couldn’t mess it up because they went in very different directions. Here, some of the lines cross over and a train might stop at the station you want to go to, or it might not.
The water fountain for kids to play in lights up at night. How pretty! Nobody was playing in it, because it was very very cold. The next morning it was a hangout birdbath for the local pigeons.
Back to our hotel and it was a lovely view of after-sunset from the windows.
We headed up to the club room for late afternoon coffee, canapes, cheese and crackers, and various other treats which were very filling. Not pictured are the butter chicken filo pastries, the arancini, the beetroot tartlets, and several other small treats. We were too busy enjoying the food to take many photos and these were an afterthought. One reason why it can sometimes be good value to pick a club room stay is because you can save money on eating out and drinks. By the time we’d spent an hour here we did not need dinner.
You can also save on drinks – alcoholic drinks were available if you wanted them, mostly wine and beer, but there was also a range of soft drinks available and you can take what you need back to your room. You can visit the room as often as you like during your stay, and the room itself is a lovely sanctuary to spend some time on very comfortable furniture.
There is always room in my stomach for Gelato Messina, though. Was it too cold for gelato? Is it ever too cold for gelato? My usual salted caramel and white chocolate teamed with chocolate sorbet. I’m faithful to that order, if they have those flavours I do not even have to take a moment to think.
The next morning we were up super early for breakfast. 7am start. There was a large conference of young religious people from America staying in the hotel. Apparently we need evangelism here in Australia, or something, but they team it up with lots of tourism and that is a win for these young folks, I think.
The reason I am mentioning this is because, the last time I was here, people were in their pyjamas getting breakfast. These people were some of the best dressed breakfast eaters I have ever seen. The men were mostly in suits, mainly floral dresses for the ladies. It was Sunday morning so these may have been going to church outfits. I enjoyed my breakfast, and the outfits, even the gingham little house on the prairie 3 layer ruffle skirt looks. Yes, I wish I had got a photo but I did not even take my phone with me, preferring the Pillow Safe.
The next stop for us was Westfield Parramatta. Mainly for a wander and explore. I wanted to check out Daiso because I knew that was there, but the rest of the stores were mostly a surprise. We spent time in Zara to see if they had a new jacket for The Other Half (no but we will find it one day) – Uniqlo and Kathmandu to find new warmer work clothing for me – in my Year Of Buying Nothing, I am not counting work clothing FYI, as it is a non-optional spend and some of it I do get reimbursed for.
We could have spent hours in Daiso just wandering about. Some useful items were found – mainly bulldog clips and lanyards. We probably could have spent hours in front of this particular section – the oil and water flip over thingies.
I had never seen a two colour one of these before. Perhaps we do not get this kind of thing on the South Coast of NSW, or maybe I just don’t spend enough time looking around. We must have stood there flipping these things over for 20 minutes or more. Yes we are easily amused.
One final stop at Bath and Body Works, where all this goodness cost me the not-very-huge sum of $92. They were having a sale, and these were bargains. The four orange bottles alone should have cost me $100 by themselves, but they were buy 3 get one free. I normally have to get Sephyroth to ship these in from the USA for me, as they used to be even more up money here and I love the scent. Orange and Ginger is my favourite, it is a real wake up smell.
The black cherry merlot hand cream and hand wash were a last minute grab as they had all the flavours at the cash register without lids on and one sniff of this told me it was that fake cherry kool aid smell that I deeply love. The hand cream has joined the L’Occitane in my handbag, and my hands will be sufficiently moisturised and scenty for many future months.
One final stop on the way home – to Leichhardt for The Peanut Butter Bar! Maybe you heard of this on Facebook, the place with the peanut butter tap? We had a protein shake each and shared the protein peanut butter pancakes for lunch. They were amazing. The gelato has protein in it!
I am a big believer in what they are doing, which is essentially this “From gelato and pudding to slices and cookies, we’ve re-designed your favourite desserts by adding the power of natural protein and avoiding refined sugars and preservatives.” This has great worldwide franchise written all over it.
OMG, that food looks incredible!! Most church going Americans(I am not one of their number) dress casually for church. The dresses and suits makes me think Mormons–or another very conservative Evangelical set. Your photos are beautiful!
I thought the fountain was at Central, but nothing in the photo looked familiar. It is at Parramatta. It’s a beauty and I like the old clock. Now, you have made me hungry and I must do something about it.
I like the look of the train interior, very clean lines and soothing colours.
I love those oil-water flips too, I used to have one in two colours, pink and electric blue and it was lovely to watch, then one day a young visitor shook the bejeesus out of it and the colours were ruined.
I love L’Occitane. But so many stores I haven’t heard of (and I think I would also love). The train and city look beautiful. AND the peanut butter pancakes!