Sydney

    

  

                                Flying into Sydney at sunset.

I am staying for 3 nights in a place called Erskinville with another friend’s son and family who moved to Australia from Suffolk several years ago. His wife is originally from Sydney. Their daughter had made me a lovely welcome banner. Obviously likes her art and crafts. Their son is a very keen footballer and seems to be showing great promise. The children are a similar age to Josie and Elliot.

The train line into the city is just a few minutes walk away which is perfect. They have made me very welcome with plenty of suggestions of things to do in the city and apps to help me find my way around.

First day is the train to circular Quay to meet my school friend, Mary, in Manly. This meant taking the ferry across Sydney harbour with views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It was a bit chilly but I still sat outside on the ferry.



A ferry leaving Circular Quay, Sydney        Sydney Harbour Bridge from the ferry


                            Sydney Opera House from the Ferry

 

Met up with Mary then we walked around the coast path to a little restaurant to enjoy fish and chips while catching up on family news and memories of our school days. Mary then went home while I  wandered around Manly for a while. Finally I took the ferry back to Sydney, this time inside as there was quite a swell and it was a lot colder.

                  

Then I just couldn't resist an enormous ice cream before returning 'home'.

 










Only one more day to explore Sydney. This time it would involve a lot of walking. First stop the Botanic Gardens. The vegetation in Australia is so different to England.




Then on to St Mary’s Cathedral via Hyde Park. A lot smaller than our park in London.


The Cathedral has the most amazing crypt with a beautiful tiled floor. Unfortunately, by the time I had been round the crypt the cathedral was closing for an event so I didn’t get to see much of the actual main church.


     


Next stop the Queen Victoria Building which is a huge shopping centre. The late 19th Century building was designed by George McCrae in the Romanesque revival style. It's main feature is the huge glass dome at the centre. Built between 1893 and 1898 it is now a shopping mall. A large number of very high-profile, expensive brand shops here. One can always dream!

         



It was then a long walk back to Circular quay and the Opera House. By this time it was beginning to get dark (5pm) and a bit drizzly but tonight I was determined to stick it out to see the lights at 6pm. This was the final night or the Vivid Festival in Sydney and I was told it was something I should definitely experience.

'Vivid Sydney is the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere and is renowned for its stunning displays that illuminate iconic landmarks around the city and Sydney Harbour including the Sydney Opera House.  

But the festival also goes beyond the light installations, featuring live music, performances, talks on cutting-edge ideas, as well as an irresistible line-up of culinary events from world-class chefs and restaurants.'

I wouldn’t have time to see all the installations around the city but decided this should be a good place and I wasn’t disappointed. I had actually been able to pick out areas that were lit up as we landed at Sydney airport. Everywhere looked very colourful.        


    




And so my whistlestop visit to Sydney ended. A taxi is booked for 8am the next day for my next flight further North to Cairns.



               









 

        

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