Coffee shop, Surry Hills, or Pompei?

On 24 August, 79 AD - 1 929 years ago - Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompei and Herculaneum.

The counter of this coffee shop opening straight onto the street reminded me of similar shops in Ancient Roman sites like Pompei (below 1), Herculaneum (below 2) and Ostia Antica.

If catastrophe were visited upon our cities today, I wonder what archaeologists would deduce about us in years time? I sometimes ponder how much difference will there be between us, and our descendents 1 929 years hence - 3 937 AD? Visiting places like Pompei and Herculaneum and reading books about Ancient Rome make me think : "Not all that much!"

What do you think?

Spice I Am

Thai restaurant in Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. Say "Spice I Am" fast to understand the pun.

Later: There are many, many Thai restaurants in Sydney, and they are mostly very, very good. Some use the word "Thai" in their name to make a sort of pun: examples include Thai Foon, Thai Tanic, Thai the Knot. Thailand used to be called Siam. So "Spice I Am" becomes Spice Siam if you run the words together....

White chairs, autumn leaves

As autumn digs in, and cool winds strip the leaves from the plane trees, it's a bit cold for outdoor cafe life.

Cafe Hyde Park Barracks, Macquarie St

On the opposite side of the Hyde Park Barracks compound to yesterday's memorial to the Great Irish Famine, is this delightful Cafe of Plenty.

Gardening

Many people enjoy a spot of gardening on a sunny autumn day. This fellow was digging at Sopranos restaurant in Elizabeth St, Surry Hills.

Meanwhile, we've had a beautifully warm, sunny Sunday. When the shadows came over my garden, we all went out and pulled up weeds and did a bit of a tidy-up. Even the cat "helped"by pouncing on hands every so often.

Wednesday Lunch

Taste, Surry Hills

Taste Bakery - Thai restaurant. Three of my work mates from my section (there are about 12 altogether) waiting for lunch to arrive. It was absolutely wonderful! We rarely all get to eat together, but Christmas time is a great motivator.

Evening cocktails

Flying Fish restaurant, Jones Bay wharf, 7:15pm

Happy Halal Christmas

Indian restaurant, Elizabeth St, Surry Hills.

Belly dancer

Yes, we all had to get up and dance!

Scooter and espresso (Transport I)

Think I'll do a transport theme for a little while.