Have you ever had one of those moments when you literally just totally stop dead in your tracks and consider how absolutely amazingly incredible it is that your feet are treading the exact same door stoop/wooden steps/insert what works for you as your forefathers from over two hundred years ago?

Or, as in the situation I had when visiting Lucca, Italy; centuries and centuries ago? Uh huh, e-o-n-s ago! I tell you, that one really had my head spinning and sometimes my imagination would become so truant that I was sure I could hear the stomping of marching feet as the soldiers in those little knee baring iron skorts marched the cobblestone streets. (Oh, and just an aside, I made up the bit about the skort for the sake of saving the boys honour) Who knows, it may have been a skirt??? Mmm, military attire mired in mystery Anyhoo, no biggie. Doesn’t change the fact that there is just soo much history in that little moated European town and I’m sure you will believe me when I say I was in my absolute and complete fantasy-land element.

Tinerate, I had my big moment of wonderment today when exploring the winding and surprisingly steep stepped hilly back lanes of the Rocks area in Sydney and, just another aside … (wait for it, there will be so many asides soon it will be its very own blog ) … it wasn’t a deja-vu sensation which was, in a way, kind of disappointing but I guess to be expected because South Australia was founded by free settlers. Just imagine being of convict heritage with all those boasting privileges at the pub … Anyone? …

I have never really got beyond all the magnificent stone that dominates this area, be it in the houses or the cliff-like walls that encompass this oasis, so therefore, never explored quite so thoroughly all the other little rabbit-warren bits of this very pretty part of the harbour. Today though I decided to throw caution to the wind and ignore all and any attempts at being polite and with a blasé carefreeness, blew through unmarked doors and proceeded down alleyways where very few others had been. (And thats their own fault cos they were being the aforementioned polite! ‘Private.’ What privacy sign? ) Anyhoo, soo glad I did!

I stumbled upon foundation after foundation of original cottages of the First Settlers and fabulous labyrinthine stoned lanes leading me through narrow corridors to goodness knows where (and considering the whole area was once a hospital, I don’t want to think about what some of the narrow halls led to and from!) All so fascinating!

Tinerate, despite the rugged history of The Rocks, (with all sorts of ragged rascals … Tongue Twister! I know! Predictable? Who? Moi? Never!!! ) it is a calming if bewitching suburb of Sydney built from the majestic sandstone that is the coastline.

Till next time.

Tipsy Pipsy xo