This week brought a new schedule to adjust to with the start of our block 2 classes. I have loved having no classes on Mondays – a whole extra day to explore and be in the sun! However I should probably learn from my mistake that I’ve been repeating every summer my entire life and maybe actually always wear sunscreen. Even if I “have a good base” or it’s morning and the UV is only 5, I really should keep in mind my dad is ginger and I burn really easily. First sunburn of the week hit me on Wednesday. I took full advantage of starting my day of classes at 3:30 pm and headed to the beach by myself. I’ve been really enjoying a nice solo walk to Bondi. It’s only about 30 minutes and makes me feel marginally less lazy than if I just took the bus. It was pretty early, only about 10ish and (I thought) the UV was low. So I decided not to put on sunscreen except on my face. I’ve gotten pretty tan since being here so I didn’t think I needed it.
I was wrong. I’m still peeling and getting used to cool showers.
Valentine’s Day!
Friday was Valentine’s Day and my roommates and I have all been craving hibachi so we knew what must be done. We booked a reservation a week in advance and prepared (I only had a light breakfast all day) for a huge meal as is to be expected from hibachi in the US. Wrong. Don’t get me wrong, the meal was delightful and there was much more of a show experience than at home. We had to catch a full raw egg in our bowls and then catch a bowl containing our portion of fried rice. I may be slightly gluttonous, and I like to eat a lot, but portions in general here are definitely smaller. And there was no yum yum sauce in sight😔. It still was super fun and a great Galentine’s experience with the girls!! We had planned on going out and even got fully ready but then Alexa started shuffling the cards and we realized we were in for a night in playing “Knock.” Since she introduced it to us I can’t get enough of the game!
Camp Cove
Saturday, we finally made the trip up to Camp Cove, a spot I’ve been wanting to check out for a while. It takes almost an hour to get there by bus as it’s positioned at the north end of Watson’s Bay. Immediately I got more of a lake feel from it. The kiosk pictured below should explain what I mean. It also reminded me a lot of Assateague with its narrow shoreline and boats anchored off shore, a beach in Maryland that my family enjoys taking our boat to in the summer. It made me miss those days with my family so much and wish I had a boat here. I ordered a chicken sandwich and a lemonade that came in a plastic ziplock bag, kinda like a Capri Sun. The sandwich was delicious until I set it down for one second and a few seagulls decided it was theirs. They only pecked at it but it ruined my appetite.
We enjoyed a nice spot right by the little entrance and really loved that we could comfortably swim in the ocean. There was only the occasional wave brought on by a passing boat’s wake. I can’t get over how blue and clear the ocean is here.
Then I ordered a lemon gelato served in a lemon peel. It was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Ariana said I looked so happy eating it that she had to snap a few pictures. Get someone who looks at you the way I look at this gelato! 😍
More beach
On Sunday, Ariana, Alexa, and I went back to Manly after the Opera House tour since we were already right by the wharf. I was smart this time and applied sunscreen and stayed in the shade. Manly gets super shady as the afternoon goes on because there’s a bunch of tall trees behind the beach. We had a small dinner at Tijuana’s of palomas, elote, and empanadas, my first time trying them! I love the food here so much.
Monday morning, we walked to Bondi for breakfast at Harry’s. I had a strawberry iced matcha because I am trying to force myself to like matcha. This one was really good! It didn’t taste like seaweed at all which is what I think I don’t usually like about it. I also had eggs benny, the superior breakfast order. So good! It wasn’t nearly as hot today and felt actually quite cool with the breeze. Don’t worry, I put on sunscreen, but not on my back. So now I have a wonderful new sunburn on my back to match the one that’s finally healing on my front! When will I learn?!