The Harbour lights are shining..

As we start to explore Sydney.
We arrived at Sydney airport 15 minutes early and were waiting to collect our luggage, as a rather surprised Martin found us. He was very pleased to see that we were “travelling light” (1 case and the rucksack being in left luggage in Melbourne) ...there were some comments about sister-in-laws and kitchen sinks? !
An interesting drive across the city and out to the north as Martin hadn’t driven it recently, and wasn’t too sure where he was going..or so he said! It looked remarkably competent to us!
Elizabeth was waiting up for us (a night owl like her sister, Tricia) and we sat up chatting until gone 1! Not good after several late nights/early mornings, but what the heck!
Two very excited children greeted us over breakfast...and all the big hugs have been passed on, Tricia! (Ryan’s was a ‘virtual’ hug, as he’s far too big for real ones these days!) I have some to return next time I see you.
It was great to have that sort of reaction from Ryan and Emily – we haven’t seen them for over 2 years so that was a bit special. Mind you, we’d forgotten how many intense questions intelligent 9 year olds ask!
The family have their normal schedule, so we’re going to “do our own thing” during the day, and meet up with them in the evening. We’d been debating about hiring another car for some of the time, but we certainly don’t need it in Sydney itself. It turns out that the rail service is relatively economic and has a reasonable timetable, so we decide to use that instead.
9.30 Tuesday morning, Elizabeth drops us off at Pennant Hills Station, and we do the 1 hour commute into Sydney city centre. Martin described the rail service as ‘slow’ (He works for Railcorp!) but it certainly isn’t too bad, and we get a good view of the suburbs as we make our way in.
So, where do you start in Sydney? The Opera House, of course!
Now, I knew the shape of it – it’s an Aussie Icon...or so I thought. ‘The’ Opera House is actually 3 separate buildings housing 2 different performance type specific (opera, orchestral, ballet) concert halls and about 6 other performance spaces of varying size. There are also two rather posh restaurants and hundreds and hundreds of red granite steps....no I’m not joking and I think we walked up or down most of them! We book ourselves onto the “essential” tour (we avoid the extra $120 for the backstage one!) which proves to be very interesting and well worth doing. It’s certainly a fascinating building and very cutting edge in design even today – so much so at the time they were building it, it nearly didn’t get built at all, as the engineers struggled to find a way to put the architects design ideas into reality.
After the tour and taking LOADS of photos, it’s an outdoor lunch overlooking the harbour and bridge, followed by a walk through circular quay to the older part of the city – known as The Rocks. Sadly we’re not here at the w/e as the Rocks hosts street markets that are well worth a visit. We have to be satisfied with the quiet village atmosphere and the interesting architecture, as we work our way up to yet more steps leading the Bridge walkway. Well, it had to be done, didn’t it?
It’s been a very hot day, and walking the bridge with no real shade was not the most comfortable place to be, but the views were amazing. Philias and Wattlie decided they needed a portrait right in the middle of the bridge, under the Australian flag..but also under the watchful eye of the security guard, and right beside the sign that said “No unauthorised climbing” ! Bears! Fortunately the security guy had a good sense of humour..either that or he was humouring two very sad poms!
We arrived on the north side of the bridge at Millsom’s Point, where there just happens to be a station on the correct line...good planning! So we poodle off up the line to meet Elizabeth as arranged, only to find that Martin is on the same train, one carriage in front of us! Sadly he has to cycle home from the station, we go back by car for a sumptuous Aussie Barbeque. Excellent! We’re glad we spent some time with Emily today, as we won’t see her again before we go – she’s off for 3 days activity camp with school.
We discover that the hills area where we’re staying is 15 mins away from the enormous Hillsongs church – Martin says it has over 5000 people in it’s congregations..a bit big for us!