Thursday

I had the most wonderful breakfast date with Pete early this morning, and I think it is going to be a regular ritual for Thursday We took the 7am train into the city, so were in by 8, and with us not starting until 9am and 11:30am respectively, there was time to eat before running off to study or teach.

We chose Bar Fresco, because gourmet sandwiches are a lovingly indulgent, especially when gluten-free bread is on the menu (the bread is from Choice's Bakery). Unfortunately, they no longer offer soy cheese, so I got Swiss (next time I will just ask Pete to get me a cheeseless one. It is rich enough with griled and roasted vegetables.)

After all was eaten, we split up in the AMP building and I headed back to Circular Quay train station. The loveliness of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge still strikes me, even though I've spent my entire life in Sydney. I am especially fond of these great sites in rainy days.

With over an hour until the library opened, I decided to pamper myself further by visiting the lovely Central Park. I really cannot get enough of this place, and I love their efforts to create a friendly, sustainable place.

I intend to bring Pete for lunch or special breakfast one of these days, even if it is very meat-central. For vegetarians, they offer sushi, limited Asian cuisine, a salad bar, and thankfully, a Mexican joint. I really enjoy the illustrations on the walls, but the outside eatery is the real winner. Besides that the tables are lined with succulents planted in pebbles and leafy plants in vintage tin cans, just look at that view!

Inside, on the same level as the food court, they have a free games area, featuring a Pacman arcade machine, pinball, mini-golf, foosball, and a billiards table, as well as an assortment of tabletop games like four-in-a-row.

I grabbed some of Crave's vegan froyo for second breakfast. They are currently limited to Tahitian Vanilla, but I am not complaining (Liverpool offers chocolate and yellow peach). I think dairy-free froyo will gradually increase in popularity until you can buy it anywhere.

 My final stop-off before the library was the Co-Op bookshop. Membership is only $20 if you haven't been, and if you buy more than four books, you make that back in savings pretty quickly. I am particularly fond of their Dekina backpacks, which are the first backpacks I've found bigger than my own. I can't choose between them, but they are certainly going on the birthday list!

Which do you like better? The left one holds more in general and has straps that hold a rolled up blanket, but the right one has clear water bottle space in a side pocket.

I hope you managed to stay dry on this lovely, rainy Thursday!