Thank you for this wonderful, sometimes hilarious thread. I am taking it with us for consultation.

Bookstore loitering is my husband's favourite pasttime so maybe he can visit one (do you know if there is one close by the Premier Menzies Hotel) while I browse the supermarkets.

I've been told that Australians are fun to travel with; I think I'm going to find them fun to visit.

We're not as much fun when we're sober, Michi, but I'm sure you'll have a good time anyway.

At 424 George Street, only a block south, between King and Markets streets your husband will find Dymocks, between King and Market streets. At 129 York Street, which runs parallel to George, Ashwoods 2nd-hand book and music store (more interesting than Dymocks IMO) will keep him happy for a while.

Neil, it was wonderful to hear you mention Ashwoods.... when it was in Pitt St I used to spend so much of my life there -- sometimes two visits a day -- that I finally asked the boss for a job, and I ended up working there for two-and-a-half years! That was back in the eighties and early nineties; it has now moved and changed hands, and somehow the thrill has gone. But it's nice to know that someone on Fodor's knows about it and is moved to mention it!

Maybe I eyeballed you across the piles of books and LPs, Alan. For me, Ashwoods epitomises an older, more raffish Sydney at that south (Haymarket) end of town. I mis-spent part of my youth working and playing there in the early '60s, and the area was defined for me by those second-hand shops, seedy pubs and even seedier wine bars, billiards parlours, a much smaller Chinatown and Greek restaurants like Diethnes, which I think is still going. And until 1960 (I think) there were the bone-shaking but efficient trams that defined a fast exit as "shooting through like a Bondi tram".

There's a myth that Sydney only got interesting in the late '60s, but trust me, there were enough opportunities for sin to satisfy anyone. Sydney has lost many of its great old pubs and laneways housing interesting shops of all, demolished in favour of soulless yuppie hangouts and Identikit "international" hotels, The Rocks, once a working-class neighbourhood, is tarted up for tourists, and the earnest young freethinkers and communists who attended jazz and folk concerts after a skinful at the Royal George pub are now suburban grandparents. Even the brothels are legal, forcing many coppers into penury and some into the arms of the drug trade.

Sorry, readers, got carried away with reminiscences there, but sometimes it's good to remember that Sydney had a long and dishonourable history before the era of mass tourism.

Neil, I'll tell you how old my association with Ashwoods is. I remember when the movie "Carmen Jones" (Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge) was released at Sydney's Mayfair, and I went to see it (I was about 14).... delirious with the thrill of the music -- my introduction to Bizet -- I wandered in and out of all the record shops looking at the album cover and wondering how, at 52 shillings and sixpence, I could ever afford to buy it; then, late in the afternoon, I discovered Ashwoods (back then in Bathurst St -- before that they were out between Ashfield and Burwood, which is how they got their name, even though for years I used to think that the tall gentleman who was obviously the boss was "Mr Ashwood&quot, and there was "Carmen Jones" in the racks for twenty shillings -- and with an interesting, "different" cover (also my introduction to imported records). I went home proudly with it, and I was an Ashwoods fan from that day. I still have the record -- and about 3000 others that, over the years, I have bought from Ashwoods. Back then they used to sell records and STAMPS... somwhere in the late fifties the stamps got dropped, probably when LPs became popular.

Whew, I'm getting on the nostalgia kick, too. You're making me feel like I've missed something, though -- somehow I never found all those opportunities for sin that you mentioned!

Sorry, michi -- you must find all of this spectacularly irrelevant to your original question. I hope, however, you have picked up some good ideas about how to spend your time in Sydney!

I don't think your last posts are unrelated to my question and I can identify with the kinds of reminiscences(?) you have because I have figured out Alan's age. Times were completely different then. Not necessarily better but I long for the simplicity and off the beaten track tourist places.

I'm so glad you mentioned the secondhand bookstore Ashwood because we love going to them. We don't always want to be on the move and we don't always have to see new places. We are looking for experiences too so Ashwood's will be one.

I feel like a fly on the wall.

G'day Michi

Don't write off the Opera House as being too "touristy". A performance there, and a walk back to the Quay afterwards is one of life's great experiences. Each time I do it, I remember why it's so great living here!

We may not get to see a performance at the operat house, neil, but we won't write it off. that would be a good experience.

Dearfriends,

Sorry to be out of touch. I just returned from a week in northern California, that wicked land of Gommorah, aka (the much maligned by johnj and others) Tasmania of America.

Delighted to find the continuation of this thread.

Michi, I just wanted to let you know that you voted for Howard Dean (courtesy one of my extra ballots) as he was the candidate who lives closest to Canada.

Now that you've cleared up the cow war of 1812., can you clarify the pig war fought I believe in the San Juan Islands located betwwen US and Canada?.

While martinis by the pool are grand, its really the people and their funny accents that make travel so interesting.

However, looking forward to everyones favorite martini recipes.
AndrewDavid

That was Margo, not me, Michi - but to establish my cultural credentials I did once see an excellent production of "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Opera House.

Good to see you back, AndrewDavid, and I'm pleased to see that you've cast what I guess we'd call an absentee vote on Michi's behalf. It's a pity it didn't rescue Dr Dean's campaign, but you can't do everything. Being an indiscriminate election junkie I have a bet with a right-wing friend on the presidential elections, involving a sixpack of Lone Star (if I can find it) if Bush wins, or Sam Adams Boston Lager if it's Kerry. (Our bet on the Australian election is a sixpack of James Squire Amber Ale.)

Alan, you have indeed dated yourself and I'm pleased to see you've got a year or so on me, you old bugger. You've reminded me of the price of LPs in the pre-decimal currency days, though - damned expensive given pay rates at the time. I should have made it clear that I was usually woefully unsuccessful in exploiting whatever opportunities for sin existed in Sydney at the time. But I knew a few pretty good sinners, whom I greatly admired.

AD, Sydney too has something of a Sodom-and-Gomorrah reputation, I'm afraid. The annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras attracts a sideshow in the form of a Sydney institution, the Rev. Fred Nile, who assembles a small band of followers to pray for rain on the big night. I think his prayers remain unanswered, and to add insult to injury suburban mums and dads are now taking their kids to see the show. The police, who initially arrested the performers, have taken the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach and now have their own float in the parade.

No recipes for martinis, so I'll just have to (re)quote a little rhyme by Dorothy Parker: "I love to have a martini/Two at the very most/After three I'm under the table/After four I'm under the host".

Hi,

Just to clarify: I could not vote absentee for Michi. Absent balloting was chaotic as this was a Democratic party run primary type caucus. Rather than a more normal election run by the Board of Elections. That's why I was able to double back and vote for Michi.

Life was quite chaotic in the Bay Area what with over 3000 same sex weddings. Even little Sandoval County, New Mexico married 26 same sex couples before the attorney general shut them.

All the condemnation of these events was good spirited fun especially as it keeps the electorate's mind off of silly issues like: the economy (currently down 3M jobs since 2001; or the lack of health care for 40M people; or that annoying war in some distant land.

Can't wait to get to more peaceful Australia and take up all the suggestions for off the grid places Michi's query has turned up in Sydney. I just bought an spf 50 shirt and pants.

Hasta luego,
AndrewDavid

David, go directly to "This forum's too tame" recently posted by Neil. And then go to the forum he suggests if you want to laugh.

There's nothing like a diversion, is there? A small war used to do the trick pretty well - what happened this time?

I guess the conspiracy theorists are theorising that Ralph Nader is being funded by the Republicans?

Why not try our preferential system? That way, voters who want to send a message to the Democrats (but not to the extent of electing Bush) could mark Nader No. 1, then Kerry No. 2. That way, when Nader comes in 3rd and is eliminated, most of his votes would be added to Kerry's.

This is why the Australian Greens don't do much damage to the Australian Labor Party - most Green voters see the ALP as the lesser of two evils and give them their 2nd-preference vote.

All this assumes that most voters actually understand the system, though, which is probably a dangerous assumption.

By the way, I haven't read of any sightings of our governor-general lately. For the record, he's Major-General Mike Jeffery. As a Vietnam vet and former commander of the army's special action forces, he'd be well trained in covert operations and camouflage.

At this weeks "Intelligence?' hearing George Tenent implied your Gov was deep undercover leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in a battle scared Middle eastern state unnamed due to "classified" status or some such gobbledegook.
AD

Bugger - spent whole minutes composing an erudite reply and then hit the wrong button.

Anyway - AD, why am I not surprised? We've spent most of our history getting into other peoples' wars, at considerable cost. Tenent is probably right. ("Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas any more!&quot

If you look like getting to Canberra on your travels drop me a note (address above) - I'd like to have a beer and yak. I've been to Santa Fe and surrounds and liked NM. I hope you feel the same about the land of Oz (Toto.....?)

Congratulations, Michi -- 75 responses! The longest thread we've had on this forum since LizF told everyone to "get stuffed"! It now takes longer to scroll down this thread thatn it will take you to see all those wonderful sights in Sydney.

Thank you Alan for the congratulations. I have nothing more to say right now since I just finished filling out my application for medical coverage for our coming trip to Australia and I am worn out.

Alan, I know you mentioned to me that I had written a post telling someone "where to go" but for the life of me I cannot remember that. You see it just goes to show what happens when one becomes old and tired with memory loss - the fire must go out completely!
( Certified Aussie Specialist in C.R.A.F.T. )

I'll bite Liz, what's C.R.A.F.T. or have you forgotten?

Neil. if it looks like we are heading to Canberra we'll let you know . Thanks for the invite. A highlight of our trip will be meeting Australians other than those dispensing martinis around the pool
AndrewDavid

Just don't be disappointed if you don't see many Aussies knocking back martinis, AD. We drink less hard liquor than Americans, but more beer and wine.

Despite the fact that so much white wine is consumed at working-class BBQs, some right-wing commentators still cling to the term "chardonnay socialist" to refer to educated middle class lefties. They seem to think that any serious lefty should stick to beer.