Sydney

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it”
-George Moore

Ya, I know…. too many pictures of me here. Hell, I was proud and amazed that I made it to the end of my journey alive. I was pretty excited leaving Blue Mountains for Sydney. I was also sad as it was the drop off point for my rental car and nearing the end of my trip. I was to spend a week in Sydney and then head home to Canada.

There is a tremendous number of pictures here of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. I apologize for this. I had recently emptied my digital camera memory cards, so I wanted to use them all up. I could not ask for better weather for the week I was in Sydney. No more campgrounds or 6 to a room hostels; I was in a downtown hotel for a week. I decided to pay extra and go out in style.

When most things you see in pictures and film seem smaller and less impressive than when you see them live, the Sydney Opera house was an exception. It was bigger and more impressive than I could have imagined. I spent my entire first day wandering around the Opera House and the nearby botanical gardens. It did not take me long to fall in love with Sydney. What a wonderful city! The clean multicultural feel of Sydney reminded me so much of my home in Toronto.

As I walked around the harbour I noticed that there was always something weird and wonderful going on. Case in point is the last picture on this page. That’s a live bird there on a remote-control car gathering up paper money from surprised onlookers. Right beside that picture is a model boat carved entirely out of gum tree. Oh, ya and it is a living statue. After taking a whack of pictures I decided to head back to the hotel. I was tired. The next day I would venture to The Rocks and the Harbour Bridge.

“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don’t have film.”

-Frank Zappa

Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest (but not longest) steel arch bridge. Look closely at the very top of the bridge arch and you will see people walking across. I thought long and hard about taking the bridge climb tour. Now I’m not too afraid of heights but to pay $160.00 AU (approx. $135 Cdn) and not being able to take my camera with me seemed like a waste of money. They do take a picture of you, but you must pay extra for the pictures. I decided to walk across instead.

On the way I passed through an open-air market area called “The Rocks”. Originally occupied by the Eora Aboriginal people. The Rocks is the site of Australia’s first European settlement in 1788.
This was a really cool place. Full of musicians and street artists. Loads of places to get great grub. Freshly roasted corn on the cob, yummy. Then these guys came out in space suits and started insulting everyone. This was my kind of place. The Rocks had some real charm.

As I crossed the harbour bridge and looked across at the Opera House it donned on me (like it did throughout my adventure) just how far away from home I was. I’m not sure I could be further. Unless I went to Tasmania. I remember being stopped on the bridge to take a picture a of a group of elderly Germans. When they ask where I was from and I said Toronto, Canada their eyes light up and big smiles appeared on their stern faces. They had been to Toronto on a recent visit and really liked the city. I smiled as we parted, looking out at the city of Sydney thinking that I could just spend the rest of my life here. I’ve been saying that in mind and aloud during my whole Oz Adventure.

I took a slew of pictures from the other side of the bridge and hurried back to hang out in The Rocks with a few tall cool ones. Tomorrow I will venture into the downtown core of Sydney.

“And I know I will be loosened from the bonds that hold me fast and the chains all around me
will fall away at last” -The Waterboys

I finally decided to relax the camera bit and explore downtown Sydney. There was a wonderful statue of Queen Victoria downtown. She looked tough. I did so many things that day. I ventured into Chinatown for some great dim sum. It was just like home. I have a picture of an Aussie army officer. Unlike the underground subways I’m used to, Sydney’s transit trains are above ground as my pictures show. I really felt quite at home in Sydney. I tried to see a rugby game, but the playoffs were over, so as a consolation, I purchased an authentic Ausssie rules rugby ball. Pretty cool eh?

Here is my last journal entry verbatim:

As I wind down my final days in Australia, I reflect on all the wonderful things I have seen and done. So, like the rolling credits at the end of a movie, I would like to give my thanks to:

The extremely warm, friendly, and humorous people of OZ….You guys’ Rock!!

Queensland sunshine and endless beaches.

All the venomous and toothy Aussie wildlife for not ending my trip and my life prematurely.

All the friendly fellow travelers I met throughout my stay in Australia.

And most of all my lovely wife, for understanding my need for an adventure….and an adventure is what I got….BIG TIME!!

-Smite