Dec 11 - Markets and Farewell Drinks

Slept in today as my throat is awfully sore and I'm not feeling so hot. Chugged water and the extra rest helped a bit. Once I was up and moving, I joined Sarah and Brennan down in the lobby and we went to the markets that Enrico had recommended we check out. I expected some food stands and some souvenirs and crap being peddled. I was pleasantly surprised though. We went into the market inside a huge warehouse and there were hundreds of stalls, selling everything from watches to clothing to food to electronics. Cheap dress shoes and dress clothes that we'll probably hit up if we need them for our jobs and very cheap Lacoste polos at one stand (2 for $45 instead of the $110 each in Lacoste stores) which are most likely knock-offs, but looked legit. One stand even had NHL jerseys for $45 that had all the authentic logos and stitching, etc. But these are things that can be purchased at a later date, so we browsed for awhile then headed out and had some Subway. Sarah also wanted to see the big fish market, so we walked over there and walked through the building and viewed all sorts of seafood, then sat at a table along the waterfront just outside the market. Brennan and Sarah sipped some wine (I skipped out due to the throat and general dislike for wine). Spent a couple hours sitting in the hot sun and chatting, then walked back into the city and around the mall by the Sydney Tower. Back to the hostel to chill out for a bit, then headed out to meet up with Dan, who has been hard to get in touch with recently because he has been working a bunch putting up posters. We walked over to the apartment Dan and his buddy were staying at and picked up some booze on the way (wine for Brennan and Sarah and I figured I'd try some famous Aussie Bundaberg rum with Coca-Cola). We got to the apartment and met Dan and his friend (from Calgary, hooray, another Canadian!) and the 5 of us chatted and had drinks in the kitchen of the place. The Bundaberg rum was awful and tasted like 151 (mmm paint thinner) but I finished off the $25 mickey with the assistance of the others. Then we all headed to an Irish bar called Kelly's that we had been at with the Aussie girls the other night after the hip hop show (to meet up with said Aussies again). Took a bus there, I think, and when we arrived I went down the street for a very delicious kebab. Then we spent the next few hours in the outdoor patio that's sort of in the middle of the building. Around 2 or 3 or somewhere around there it was time to go but we lost Brennan and Sarah. Dan and Rob (from Canada) took a taxi back to their place, which is in the opposite direction of where I was going. So I picked up a Powerade from a 7-11 and legged it all the way back to the hostel. Had a delicious, fresh slice of pizza a couple blocks from the hostel and made it back successfully, which I was proud of as I'm terrible with directions here since I'm usually not paying attention to streets and landmarks as we walk around. Brushed the teeth (always feels great after a night at the pub) and zonked out for the night at about 4:30. Apparently Brennan and Sarah had caught a cab back to the hostel and thus arrived before I did. Sarah and Dan both fly home tomorrow, so our travel group is no more.