Sydney, Australia

The city’s harbor is instantly recognizable, not only for its magnificent beauty, But for two of the most famous landmarks in the world…the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. When it was discovered in 1788 British Captain Arthur Phillip called it “the finest harbor in the world.”  Few have since disagreed.

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales is very cosmopolitan and home to almost 4 million residents.  High-tech & high-rises, residential and recreational, vibrant and Victorian, industrious and independent – Sydney is the one city that has it all.  It is the oldest city is Australia and was the site of the first British penal colony on the continent and was named after Secretary Lord Sydney.  By the mid 1800s, the colony’s sheep-sheering industry gave way to fortune-seekers as gold was discovered, and the city has flourished ever since.

We have been here several times and pretty much knew where to go & what to do.  We also have a few friends in Queensland.  A couple of times we rented a sail boat and sailed around Sydney Harbor (in front of the Opera House).  We are here for 2 days, the first was spent on the “on off bus,” where we can ride for 24 hours on busses that take you throughout the entire city and the outskirts.  You can get off at any stop, stay for a while then get on the next bus to see something different.  Museums, beaches, shopping, whatever your choice.  We did a little of everything and were gone from 9:30 in the morning until 10:00 that night.

There is a fun restaurant here where you walk up a a few steps to a cook house, choose your entrée from the raw meats being displayed (chicken, various steaks, fish or pork), then take it to a grill and cook it yourself.  Other patrons are using the same grill.  After our steaks were cooked, we took them back to the cook house to get a baked potato, onions, vegetable & salad.  It’s called “Phillips Foote,” and is located in a popular area called “The Rocks.”  We had the best meal since leaving the states and had the most wonderful time.

The next day we walked to the Maritime Museum where docked were an Australian sub and a destroyer.  David, who is an x-submariner, took us through the sub giving us a better tour than the museum volunteers.  We ate a “hamburger” near the museum ($27.00for 2 with fries) then walked back to the boat.  I thought we walked a lot in Auckland, that was nothing compared to Sydney.  This is definitely a walking city and probably one the most beautiful in the world. 

About 200 passengers will disembark here as the 1^st segment of the trip is over.  200 others will board.  There are 4 segments to the trip the next being Sydney to Singapore, Singapore to Dubai and finally Dubai to Rome. Our sail-away is at 8:00 this evening – next stop Adelaide.

So “g’day” mates and hope you are having a lovely day.