Sydney August 2007

Since computer time is expensive, I'm gonna try to consolidate my posts into cities - and especially since i'm a little late in doing this - i'm still learning the blogging world.

Sydney

Day 1: Arrived bright and early - even before the sun - to a crisp Syndey winter morning. Took the train into the city and my hotel's add said only 5 mins walk to the station - THEY LIED! I had to drag my big, heavy bag all they way for about 15-20 mins during morning commute - so i got a lot of strange looks. My hotel - Vulcan hotel - even though in the middle of nowhere, turned out to be nice. I started on my first day into the city on the train...and right into Circular Quay - when suddenly around the corner there it was...the Opera House! I've seen lots of pics of it, but in person wow. I couldn't take my eyes off of it - so it got my first visit. The Sydney harbor was amazing! I loved it - hung out there for a good part of the day just exploring. Weather was quite warm - about 70 degrees. I explored the "Rocks" (cool, artsy area), Botanical Gardens which wind around the harbour - just in time for the sunset behind the opera house and the Harbour Bridge. Gorgeous and perfect end of the day...now jet lag was setting in.
Day 2: Woke early and on the ferry to the Sydney Zoo. Had to see a koala and roo...and i wasn't disappointed. You could walk right through their area with no fences, etc. The best part had to be the elephants, which were getting their daily baths and they were so happy and lifted their big feet to get their mani/pedis. Also got to see their amazing collection of birds, and the typical giraffes, tigers, etc. Oh, and i managed to catch the koalas before their 21 hour nap. the Ferry ride was nice with a great view of the harbour and yep, the opera house. Once back in the city, I did the history tour to a number of sites. Coolest was the convict house - where they original convicts were housed before they went working into the city - they lived in unbelievable conditions all sleeping in one room with just rows of hammocks - that room was kind of spooky, very quiet and you could almost feel them still there. Then that evening i went to an opera, yep, you know where - I saw the Barber of Seville and i had seen the prequel in SF just last year. And I sat next to an American woman who went to Duke and was a huge basketball fan just like me (the intermission was spent plotting what they needed to do next season). Small world! My pre-theater dinner was this yummy dish that's in Australia: potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chile sauce, while staring at the Opera House at night. I've taken pictures of that place in every time of the day. Opera was really funny!
Day 3: Another early morning and ventured off to Bondi beach. A nice beach area - really feels like a beach town with all the surf shops and surfers. I was on the bus with a Chris O'Donnell look alike...hmmm...sold! Bondi is famous for their lifeguards, however, not during winter - Darn! But it was a lovely warm day and i took their 3 beach walk along the ocean. Then had breakfast break at a little cafe looking out at the ocean. Actually worked up a slight glow on my walk - really felt like i was working out!
Day 4: I took a tour into the Blue Mountains. We had a great guide, Jim, who knew all the nooks and crannies of the mountain area. Called the 'Blue' Mountains because of the eucalyptus oil that hangs in the air above the trees. A beautiful area just about 1 hour outside of the city and it is full of rain forest as well as trails and some rather small waterfalls. Our first stop, I got to see my first wild roo and baby joey. There was a small bunch of them. They were so amazing. We hiked around a trail at the tops of the canyons and i wore my hiking clothes and felt rather hikerly. There was this rock formation that had 3 rocks - called the 3 sisters that were amazing when you first saw them hiding around the side of the information booth. And we took the world's steepest railroad that climbs at 45 degree angle (I think), well it's really steep anyway.
Off to Brisbane tomorrow...