Rachel and I decided to spend the sunny day (or what was left of it, anyway) seeing the countryside. In what ended up being a whirlwind tour, Rachel took me to the Blue Mountains and the Jenolan Caves (a total of six hours and 400 kilometers of driving!). Though we were a bit squeezed for time, the trip was well worth it.
First up were the Blue Mountains, so-named (and so-colored) because of the gases given off by the abundant gum trees (eucalyptus) in the area. The views at Honeymooners Ledge and Echo Point were breathtaking and my camera couldn't keep up with my furious finger. The Three Sisters ( a trio of rocky outcroppings) provided triple the fun and formed the majestic centerpiece of the mountainscape.
------------The Blue Mountains (See "The Three Sisters?")--------------
Then it was off to the Jenolan Caves, an equally impressive natural wonder. We only had time to see Lucas Cave, just one of the 300+ caverns in the extensive underground network, but I was not disappointed. If the Blue Mountains were the sky gods of New South Whales, there was little doubt who ruled the Underworld -- Lucas Cave was an awesome spectacle of rainwater-sculpted limestone. It's massive chambers, filled with armies of stalactites and stalagmites, were a true testament to Nature's power, whereas the flowing beauty of the skirts and curtains showcased its artistry. My favorite formations were also among the most famous, including Broken Pillar, Bishop's Rock and most notably The Cathedral, where we spent the majority of the tour.
-------------------Lucas Cave (At The Jenolan Caves)--------------------The Cathedral got its name because of its size (it was the highest chamber in the park), natural church-like architecture and acoustics. The guide attempted to wow us with this last feature by blaring a Bee Gees CD over the cave's built-in speakers. I have to say that this temporarily tarnished the experience for me -- not only was the music selection incredibly sappy and inappropriate, but the whole idea of building a sound system within a natural wonder seemed tacky, touristy and just plain wrong. I toned down my criticism somewhat when the guide switched to "A Night On Bald Mountain," which was admittedly more emotionally evocative than "How Deep Is Your Love." On our way out of the hallowed halls of the Cathedral, the guide informed us that the chamber was occasionally used for church services, classical concerts and even weddings (it would be a cool place to get married).
We explored a few more chambers (one had a clear stream running through it), and then we bolted for the car, hoping to make it back to the city for our 7:30 dinner reservation.
Unfortunately, it became apparent quite early on during our return trip that, despite the lack of traffic Rachel had feared, we'd have to call ahead and cancel our dinner date at Doyle's (supposedly the premier seafood house in Sydney) because we'd never get there in time. It wasn't all bad news, however, since the more liesurely driving pace allowed us to relax a little and better appreciate the scenic ride home (we witnessed a spectacular sunset behind the Blue Mountains, and we stopped the car when a black kangaroo hopped right in front of us -- a rare sighting, according to Rachel, who swears no one in her family had ever seen a wild roo cross the road in NSW before), and we got to eat a deliciously impromptu meal at a Thai Restaurant along the way.
After dinner, I thanked Rachel for a truly wonderful day. I told her I looked forward to returning the favor next year in New York, when she plans to visit (I hope I can be half as good a host as she has been).
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