Our approach to Sydney
The famed bridge which one can walk or climb
Hobart was big, Melbourne bigger.....and Sydney biggest! A bit overwhelming after six weeks in NZ. Sydney has a population of about 4 million -- nearly as many as all of NZ.
Strolling the quay next to the ship.....most welcome advantage to the Sydney port.....we are docked in the center of town and can walk to most anything
The Rocks Centre is the oldest part of the city. Called The Rocks because it was very rocky at the original landing point.
As you see, the buildings are smaller...no high rises here. Quaint, historic and preserved.
However, there was nothing quiet about the Rocks Centre today! We were fortunate to be there on Market Day......hundreds of vendors with everything from food to flowers to crafts to original design/hand sewn clothing. No dogs allowed, no vehicles, a few singers and guitar players....quite fun!
We opted for a free walk, rather than a $200/person climb!
The views were fabulous. Once again, we were blessed by perfect weather! A great day for doing most anything outside. After the bridge, we simply strolled the streets.....not too many people on the streets....they were all at the market...still in a bit of shock due to the enormity of the buildings and the vast expanse of the city
Pockets of green space, but not nearly as much as Melbourne or Hobart.....and certainly not as much as in NZ
We learned from Heather, our tour guide in Hobart, more about the legendary convict situation in Australia. Descendants of these convicts used to be ashamed of their heritage, but as the time has passed, that has changed. As we mentioned in Hobart, these prisoners had been banned from England for petty crimes....they were not "criminals". They were poor people, trying to eat, live, feed their families. Perhaps the best example of this situation is the story of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Today, there is a sense of pride in such heritage.
The gardens are nestled between the harbor and the center of town.....a beautiful walk.
Located in the Botanic Garden, the Government House is reserved for official functions....open only for special tours.
With her Mama, having fun in the Garden.....and wearing her hat!!!!!
Unique playground, huh?
And a unique tribute/memorial to all the seamen, constructed entirely of river stones.
The Opera House is accessible from the Botanic Garden....as I said, one can walk everywhere here!
An impressive wall of "house mates"
Somehow, neither of us realized that the Opera House will be 40 years old in October!
Toilet obsession again....this is the toilet paper holder in the ladies toilet!
We had lunch outside the Opera House at the Opera Kitchen, right on the water.
What a view!!!!! But those damned seagulls ATTACKED Tom's salmon salad when he went to get us water......I turned my back for an instant, heard an awful screeching sound, turned around and EVERY one of the birds pictured was on the table, fighting over his salad.....after I shooed them away, the salmon was scattered over the whole table! ps. Tom ate the rest of the salad. YUK!
Meandering back to the ship, I wanted to return to the market for another browse. By now every bar, cafe, restaurant is packed....the market lasts for 3 days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10-5. But Tom still managed to find a Golden Ale.
The ship, as noted, had an almost magical location in the Sydney Harbor.
Tom CANNOT call these people foolish for paying $200 to climb up there!!! At least they didn't JUMP!!
Sailing away.....good bye, Sydney
