Sydney

Sydney skyline from Taronga Park zoo

Wrought iron work - Paddington

Syndey Harbour Bridge from Observatory Hill

How do you start to describe Australia’s biggest city? I’m not going to try however here is what we did during our short four day visit. We went to Circular Quay and took a ferry to Manly Beach. Marielle didn’t like the ocean swell and the small waves crashing onto the fore deck while navigating past the “Heads”. We went to Taronga Park zoo on a ferry. Not only is the zoo worth seeing in its own right but the views over the city are spectacular. We went to the Botanical Gardens which were expansive but drab as it was Winter after all. The hundreds of flying foxes (bats) roosting in the trees was interesting if only to make sure their guano didn’t end up on your head. We went to china town, large and full of restaurants with people selling cheap meals, and Paddy’s Market to see the same tourist merchandize at lower prices than the prices asked, and we paid, at tourist shops downtown. We went to “The Rocks” historical district of cobble streets and boutiques with great views to the Harbour Bridge. We walked on the Harbour Bridge and baulked at the $150 per person (each) price tag to scale the bridge. We lounged around on Observatory Hill while shooing away the ibises (birds) gathered to see if we had handouts. We visited the Aquarium which is a “must” to see the big tanks of sharks and turtles and the playful platypuses. We visited the IMAX, the biggest in the southern hemisphere or was it the world, while the parents ate at a waterside restaurant in Darling Harbour. We visited Paddington an inner suburb known for “Sydney Lace” – wrought iron lattice work on all the houses. We also circumnavigated the Opera House a couple of times without going in. I hear the tour is worth the money and if you can catch a show it’s even better. And not forgetting the kilometers upon kilometers of walking to get to all these places through streets of rushing crowds, colonial buildings and restaurants for all tastes and wallets.