A Week in Windang

     Today is one week since we moved into our Airbnb in Windang, New South Wales. To go to Newtown to see the family, we take a local bus to Wollongong, then a train into Sydney. If we make good connections, it takes about 1.5 hours. Here's a little map to show you where we are situated. Sydney is about one hour north of Wollongong by train.

     What we love about Windang is how quiet, tranquil, and mostly undiscovered it is. Steve feels like he's back in a Southern California beach community in the 1950s. If we walk out to the beach (just 5 minutes away), there is nobody on it! If we have dinner at the local Bowling Club it costs <$10 Australian each! (Steak night is Mondays, schnitzel night is Wednesday, and so on...) Plus, our wonderful Airbnb hosts have already loaned us their bicycles, so we can get around just about everywhere now.
     On Saturday morning, Steve and I took the bus north to N. Wollongong because we wanted to try the local French club that meets there weekly. I've since signed up for an advanced French conversation group that meets at the same café on Tuesday mornings. Led by Céline, I'll be joining the group next week.
     Next, we checked out the skydiving business right by the beach where you can jump out of plane in tandem with a pro and experience parachuting. As we watched many of the tandem pairs land safely and softly either on soft sand or grass, it didn't look that scary any more. Steve decided he's definitely going to try it! And I'm considering it (something I would never have imagined myself saying). We shall see...

     Sunday evening Steve and I took a leisurely stroll across the bridge that spans Lake Illawarra (5 minutes from our apartment). We then followed a lovely pedestrian/bicycle path  south along the lake to the next town of Warilla. After asking around, we learned that Warilla had its own Bowling Club that is even bigger than Windang's. So we decided to have dinner there and compare clubs. While Warilla's club is definitely much bigger, we think the food is better at Windang. But the casino in Warilla was much larger, and it easily took too much of my money. So done with gambling for now!
     On Monday, Steve and I decided to revisit the charming town of Kiama about 30 km south of Windang. We caught the local bus to the town of Oak Flats, then boarded the southbound train for just a few stops. The weather was perfect, and Kiama was just as beautiful as we remembered when we first visited there in 2006.

     As we wandered along the beach, we came across the local swimming hole/lagoon we had seen years before -- connected to the Pacific Ocean but protected.

     Steve took one look at my face when I saw the swimming hole and decided to seize the opportunity at once. He found a charming beach cottage for rent right above and decided to rent it for us for a couple of nights next week! Then we strolled through the town until we found the local "Salvo" (Salvation Army) and I bought two used bathing suits for a total of $14.00 AU. I now have a three bathing suits -- one each for morning, noon, and night!
     By Tuesday it was time for our return trip to Sydney to visit Olivia and Owen. Our kind Airbnb host Alan generously offered to drive us to Wollongong where we could catch the Sydney train. Once in Newtown, we picked Owen and Olivia up from pre-school. Then Steve treated everyone to dinner at the Carlisle Pub directly across the street from Andrea and Adam's house. After dinner it was bath and bedtime for the kids, while Steve and I went gelato exploring in Newtown. Yum!
     Wednesday morning began with grand-twin breakfast.

    After Adam left to work, Andrea, Olivia, Owen, Steve, and I headed into Sydney for a day of play. The kids chose the Australian Museum as our destination. It did not disappoint!

     As we made our way back to the train in downtown Sydney, we said hello to Captain James Cook. We had all enjoyed our day on the town!