Trip to Blue Mountains delayed a day because we thought it was going to rain.... it ended up being beautiful so we walked across the Bridge instead. A climb to the top goes for $150 per person so we opted out of that idea.
Afternoon spent at Australian museum. ..more aboiut Indigenous people and an exhibition on Aztecs.
Had a terrific tour and lunch at the Opera House today. Truly an amazing structure which initially was going to be built in 3 years and cost $7 million. In actuality, it took 16 years to build and cost $102 million. It was built on an Aboriginal site where fishing for cockles and mussels was done resulting in piles of shells on the site which was the inspiration for the shell like structure of the roof by the Danish architect, Jorn Utzon. He resigned from the project before it was completed due to a change in the Government resulting in him not getting further payments due. He never returned to Australia to see the finished product. The roof is made up of white and tan tiles, the white ones are glazed and the tan ones have a matte finish to decrease glare...the entire roof is self cleaning.
The opera is currently pèforming in Melbourne and won't return to Sydney until after we've left. Very unfortunate for us.
This fabulous Lego structure is two blocks from our hotel. PRETTY GREAT, HUH!!!??
Spent all day on the hop on hop off ferry. SYDNEY HARBOR is the 2nd busiest harbor (reputably) in the world. Not sure which is 1st. ..
Had lunch at Doyles seafood which is supposed (again reputably according to an Aussie on the ferry) to be the best seafood in Sydney. Did finally discover Cooper beer :)
Did some shopping at Manly Harbor.
Home to Castlereagh and will have our usual glass (reputably :) of Margaret River chardonnay. ..long day.
Watson's Bay (false Sydney Harbor entrance).nasty murder and suicide spot.Not well thought of by Aussies.
Bondi Beach. (Pronounced "Bindi"....aboriginal meaning waves breaking over rocks or sand.
Unbelievable gridlock traffic in Sydney. So much building going on in the city it reminded me of an erector set gone awry with all the cranes rising throughout the city.
The Rocks tonight. .no questions, no answers. We did have a good time.
Heading to the Circular Quay today and The Rocks tonight for the Friday night markets.
Some pictures from yesterday on way to Aquarium.
So, so tour. Nice sights but crazy loud music and broken PA system so driver just had to shout.
Curtain fig tree spectacular
Tablelands is where the farmers raise all the fruits and vegetables...it is a highly fertile area as a result of volcanic soils. As Hope said, the topography reminded her of Vermont on steroids. The winding roads of 212 switchbacks coming down from above was breathtaking.
Nice lunch at the largest timber frame building in Australia.
We also spotted a tree kangaroo while walking through the rainforest to a swimming area where Hope braved the rock slide and saw a platypus in a muddy river area.
Right now sitting in airport waiting for flight to Sydney but will post when we get to hotel...airport wants $12 to log on for 1 hour.
