Manly Beach.

Manly Beach ranks almost alongside Bondi Beach as one of the most popular Sydney beaches. It is a very long beach, but the surfing area is quite concentrated, and it is adjacent to the main swimming area, though the water is so crowded with people splashing in the waves that I doubt anybody does much actual swimming. The water is just alive with people. And the beach is covered with bodies--acres of exposed flesh. Female bums are very much in evidence as the 'thong' seems to be universal among younger women.

And extensive tattoos are everywhere.

We got there on the ferry from Circular Quay, which is the inner harbor of Sydney, where the huge cruise ships dock overnight, and there are a number of wharves for the various ferries that serve the greater harbor. The ferry took 28 minutes to get to Manly, and then we had quite a long walk to get to Shelley Beach, which is tucked away behind a small headland, which means that the sea is quite calm. No surfers, but dozens of swimmers and sunbathers--difficult to find a place to settle down, and you need to be in the shade. But we found somewhere under the trees at the back of the beach--a bit too close to other people, but it couldn't be helped. Joan swam first, then I swam, and then Joan swam again. Problems getting a shower and changing as they were constructing new changing rooms and they had substituted some small 'sheds' to change in.

We took the long walk back to the main beach. Smoothies and something to eat. Walk to the Manly Art Gallery--which we have found in earlier years is worth a visit. Then a rush to get the next ferry, light rail to the Town Hall railway station, train to Kings Cross Station, grocery shopping at Coles, and walk home. And a beer on arrival.