This week, we wrapped up our second week of classes for the second block of the program. During Australian Life and Culture, I learned an immense amount about the history of the relationship between the United States and Australia, and the common perception of the Australian man. It was incredibly interesting to learn about how the world views Australia, and the common stereotypes that are associated with being Australian, most of which I did not know existed.
On Thursday evening after class, I had the opportunity to meet up with one of my close friends from high school who moved to Australia after we graduated. He was a completely different person, and it was super interesting to hear about the last three years and what he has been up to. We got dinner at a very old-time pub right near the central station called the Keg and Brew Hotel, and the food there was amazing. It was great to see an old friend and catch up after not being together for three years.
Brokenwood Wines and Ernest Hill Wines
Moving on to the weekend, we had the incredible opportunity to visit the Hunter Valley wine region, and the vineyards there were outstanding. The first was called Brokenwood Wines, and we had a very immersive tasting experience where we tried seven different wines. The guide was very informative and provided us with a lot of useful information about their wines. We were able to take several photos outside afterward, and the views were incredible. After that, we went to Ernest Hill, where we got to try a variety of different wines which were all great. My favorite was the dessert wine, which I ended up buying a bottle of afterward. After we got back to the hotel, we checked out of Newcastle and saw the restaurants and shops in the area. However, my favorite place on this trip by far was the vineyard on Sunday called Margan Wines.
Margan Wines
Margan Wines was located on one of the most scenic and beautiful properties I had ever seen. The mountain backdrop was incredible, not to mention the actual building. The inside area was completely made of wood, and it truly felt like we were in a vineyard. Additionally, the tasting experience was very well done, and the guide was super knowledgeable about each wine we tried. The Chardonnay was amazing, it was one of my favorites.
Glenmore Hotel and Bronte Beach
Once we got back to Sydney on Sunday, I went to dinner with my parents and my aunt and uncle who had just arrived that morning. We went to the Glenmore Hotel rooftop restaurant, and the view of the city was spectacular. You could see every building in the business district, and the sunset was amazing. It is definitely a restaurant I will be back to before I leave Sydney. John and I also went to Bronte Beach Monday morning, and this was super cool because I was able to go in the Bronte pool that is effectively attached to the ocean. There was also a natural pool that was located between two sets of rocks, and that was super cool to swim in. I thought Bronte Beach was one of the better beaches that I had been to since arriving, and I will hopefully be back before we leave.
All in all, this was a great week full of new and unique experiences that I will remember for years to come. I am looking forward to my New Zealand trip this weekend, and seeing more of Sydney this week.