Relaxing, Shopping and Enjoying the City

Always Love a Fountain

After a few days of extensive sight-seeing we started day four in a slightly different way. After a great breakfast (breakfast at the hotel was great every day, the staff loved Siena and the food was delicious), we headed out thinking we would go to the zoo. As we were walking, Siena fell asleep and so we detoured into the Rocks area and did a little shopping.

Good Morning Sydney

As it would turn out this week is very special for us as it is our anniversary tomorrow. So we did a little anniversary gift shopping. This vacation and the time I am getting to spend with Lisa is a wonderful gift for me. I have been lucky to have such a wonderful woman in my life for the past 12 years and as we celebrated our 9th anniversary this weekend, I am again reminded just how lucky I am. For us as a family this trip has already created such a great bonding opportunity and Siena is just getting closer with mommy and daddy each day as have so much time together. I know what a true gift my family is! As fate would have it, it is also Father’s Day in Australia this weekend, so we will be celebrating our family all weekend long!

On our walk we did a little native product shopping as well. For anyone who has been around Siena the past year you have probably seen her wearing her pink UGG boots at some point. She loved them. Since we are in the homeland of UGG boots it seemed like the right time to let her pick out a new pair. As we walked around Sydney we saw UGG boots for sale in every shop. We noted with interest how the prices were so widely different everywhere we went. As we headed back from our day of shopping we came across the actual UGG brand’s only Sydney store. Here we learned that UGG simply means it is made from a sheep and everyone calls their products by that name. The UGG we know in the US is actually as trademarked logo with the middle G bigger and capitalized. While all the other boots were actually ugg (made from sheep’s wool), they weren’t the actual brand, simply a knock off. We bought Siena some new boots at the store, so she is ready for the fall and winter in the US.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

After a great day of wandering the city we headed up to the 36th floor of the hotel to watch the sunset in the Blu Bar. With views of the entire city from atop the hotel we enjoyed a lovely sunset. Then out we went to pick up some dinner and enjoy another evening of dinner with a view from our room.

Sydney Harbour

As always, Siena brought us back to the room without letting us get lost. Siena loved our room; she liked sitting in the windows and watching the boats, bouncing on the bed and watching intently outside to see what was happening. There was a lot of “look mommy” and “look daddy” as she saw new sights and shared them with us. She also knew exactly how to find our room. No matter which elevators we got off she would always run ahead and go straight to our door. When we left in the morning she would run ahead and push the button to call the elevator. I know all kids do these things as they grow up. But for me watching Siena do it is fun and a clear sign that she is growing up now.

I love looking out the window!

It was another fun day.