And so ends another day in the city on the harbor. Let me fill you in on what went down......
We started the day with the big "to-do" on my list, a tour of the inside of the Sydney Opera House. I am still an architecture enthusiast at heart (toyed with the idea of architecture as a major before I went to school....but decided I wanted at least a chance of getting a job) and the Opera House is probably the iconic example of modern architecture. It was wet outside as we stepped out in the morning, it apparently having rained quite a bit during the night. Things were beginning to dry up and the air was warm, but we decided to use the time to take our tour of the building.
We linked up the 10 o'clock tour (tickets are $35 per person, but we got them for $28, as a group discount. It was my idea to ask for that, so all congratulations can be directed towards me). Our guide was an older gentleman named Martin, be he had a perfect voice for narration. Don't really know how to describe it, but, at the risk of sounding like I bat for the other side, I liked his voice. Anyway, Martin took our group of 20 or so people through the 2 main concert halls and 1 of the smaller ones (there are 5 total, with 3 small theater rooms), and gave the history and reasoning behind the designs of the rooms, descriptions of the materials used and why they were chosen, all fascinating stuff. We also got to check out the main foyer and other parts of the building. Unfortunately, photographs in the theater rooms and concert halls was not allowed, which is a real shame, because I really wanted to nab some. The designs were not that spectacular, but their was something special about their simplicity, and how they were designed to maximize the concert/opera/theater experience. The Opera House, unsurprisingly, is often used as the location for movie launches, and Martin gave us a rundown of all the celebrities he had laid eyes upon in the building, including A-listers like Myrle Streep and Tom Cruise. The tour took about an hour, but it was well worth the 28 bucks. The Opera House of course is known for its dazzling exterior, which is fantastic, but the interior can definitely hold a candle, and shouldn't be missed.
After taking in as much of Sydney's main sight as was possible, the weather was looking pretty clear and we set out for some walking around outdoors. We decided on a district of the city known as Surry Hills, a kind of bohemian area known for its boutique shopping. It was a bit of a hike, so we hopped on the inter-urban rail right at the station on circular quay, and boom, three stops later we were at the city's Central Train Station, which abuts Surry Hills. We found a popular shopping area, the intersection of Campbell and Crown streets, where I told the girls that I was going to leave them to their own devices for an hour while I explored. As you may know I am not really one for shopping, but I still liked the area. It actually felt quite a bit like Tel Aviv (avid readers will know this is one of my favorite cities), and even had a couple of building done in the Bauhaus style, just like in Tel Aviv. As I wandered back in the direction I left the girls, I spotted them heading my way, and we ducked into a little cafe so they could grab a bite (I quickly ate my peanut butter sandwich in the train station. Adam Kwiat, intrepid traveler). After some discussion over their lunch we decided on hitching the bus to the south, towards the city's beaches.
With a bus stop conveniently located right outside where we just finished eating, we caught the 378 bus to Bronte Beach. Bronte Beach is the starting point of a fantastic ocean-side walk (3.5 km long) the runs to Bondi Beach, Sydney's most famous beach. By this point (around 2ish) the weather couldn't really have been any better, and the walk from Bronte to Bondi, though a bit long, was fabulous (hey, I'm running out of superlatives here). We of course had to stop several times to take photos. How could we not, with the views we were being afforded. I have to say it was wasn't as good what Joe and I saw in Cape Town, near Camp's Bay or off of Chapman's Peak Drive, but this was still something to write home about. We made it to Bondi but didn't hang around very long, we just grabbed a couple of delicious fruit smoothies (Mango Tango anyone?) from a little juice joint, and caught a bus from a nearby station all the way back to Circular Quay.
That sounds like enough right? Well, not quite, we weren't done yet. After an hour or so rest, the girls got ready for a night out (Valentine's Day, remember?) and I phoned up a friend of mine in the city, whose name is Sidney actually (parents had a sense of humor I guess). I met Sidney, whose in his 40s, in my hotel in Buenos Aires all those months ago, and we hit it off. He told me to contact him when I was in town so, low and behold, here I am. We met at 7 at Wharf 3 on the Circular Quay. He lives out in the suburbs, maybe 20 or so minutes away by rail, and doesn't hang out in the city very much. It definitely showed, he couldn't recommend a place for us to sit down and it. We wandered around for quite a while, looking for someplace that wouldn't bankrupt us. We were on George Street, the main drag, much of the time, and still didn't find anything that suited us. No matter really, we chatted the whole way, making small talk. Eventually we settled on Subway, a real local place, I know. Its ok, we both agreed we didn't want anything too fancy (fulfilled that requirement, that's for damn sure) and it was quick and cheap enough. After polishing off our sandwiches we made our way back to the Quay, where we hung out by the water and chatted some more, watching as couples, young and old, walked around in the cool evening air in honor of Saint Valentine. Eventually I began to fade, and we parted ways. We'll keep in touch, and I'm sure we will cross paths again.
And now here I am. The girls have literally just walked into the room, so I want to here what went on in their evening. Check out some photos from our day today while I do that.
Photos: The main foyer in the Sydney Opera House; a row of homes in Surry Hills; an example of Bauhaus architecture in Surry hills; Your Correspondent, on the way from Bronte Beach to Bondi; Hayley, looking lovely as always, also near Bondi Beach.
We started the day with the big "to-do" on my list, a tour of the inside of the Sydney Opera House. I am still an architecture enthusiast at heart (toyed with the idea of architecture as a major before I went to school....but decided I wanted at least a chance of getting a job) and the Opera House is probably the iconic example of modern architecture. It was wet outside as we stepped out in the morning, it apparently having rained quite a bit during the night. Things were beginning to dry up and the air was warm, but we decided to use the time to take our tour of the building.
We linked up the 10 o'clock tour (tickets are $35 per person, but we got them for $28, as a group discount. It was my idea to ask for that, so all congratulations can be directed towards me). Our guide was an older gentleman named Martin, be he had a perfect voice for narration. Don't really know how to describe it, but, at the risk of sounding like I bat for the other side, I liked his voice. Anyway, Martin took our group of 20 or so people through the 2 main concert halls and 1 of the smaller ones (there are 5 total, with 3 small theater rooms), and gave the history and reasoning behind the designs of the rooms, descriptions of the materials used and why they were chosen, all fascinating stuff. We also got to check out the main foyer and other parts of the building. Unfortunately, photographs in the theater rooms and concert halls was not allowed, which is a real shame, because I really wanted to nab some. The designs were not that spectacular, but their was something special about their simplicity, and how they were designed to maximize the concert/opera/theater experience. The Opera House, unsurprisingly, is often used as the location for movie launches, and Martin gave us a rundown of all the celebrities he had laid eyes upon in the building, including A-listers like Myrle Streep and Tom Cruise. The tour took about an hour, but it was well worth the 28 bucks. The Opera House of course is known for its dazzling exterior, which is fantastic, but the interior can definitely hold a candle, and shouldn't be missed.
After taking in as much of Sydney's main sight as was possible, the weather was looking pretty clear and we set out for some walking around outdoors. We decided on a district of the city known as Surry Hills, a kind of bohemian area known for its boutique shopping. It was a bit of a hike, so we hopped on the inter-urban rail right at the station on circular quay, and boom, three stops later we were at the city's Central Train Station, which abuts Surry Hills. We found a popular shopping area, the intersection of Campbell and Crown streets, where I told the girls that I was going to leave them to their own devices for an hour while I explored. As you may know I am not really one for shopping, but I still liked the area. It actually felt quite a bit like Tel Aviv (avid readers will know this is one of my favorite cities), and even had a couple of building done in the Bauhaus style, just like in Tel Aviv. As I wandered back in the direction I left the girls, I spotted them heading my way, and we ducked into a little cafe so they could grab a bite (I quickly ate my peanut butter sandwich in the train station. Adam Kwiat, intrepid traveler). After some discussion over their lunch we decided on hitching the bus to the south, towards the city's beaches.
With a bus stop conveniently located right outside where we just finished eating, we caught the 378 bus to Bronte Beach. Bronte Beach is the starting point of a fantastic ocean-side walk (3.5 km long) the runs to Bondi Beach, Sydney's most famous beach. By this point (around 2ish) the weather couldn't really have been any better, and the walk from Bronte to Bondi, though a bit long, was fabulous (hey, I'm running out of superlatives here). We of course had to stop several times to take photos. How could we not, with the views we were being afforded. I have to say it was wasn't as good what Joe and I saw in Cape Town, near Camp's Bay or off of Chapman's Peak Drive, but this was still something to write home about. We made it to Bondi but didn't hang around very long, we just grabbed a couple of delicious fruit smoothies (Mango Tango anyone?) from a little juice joint, and caught a bus from a nearby station all the way back to Circular Quay.
That sounds like enough right? Well, not quite, we weren't done yet. After an hour or so rest, the girls got ready for a night out (Valentine's Day, remember?) and I phoned up a friend of mine in the city, whose name is Sidney actually (parents had a sense of humor I guess). I met Sidney, whose in his 40s, in my hotel in Buenos Aires all those months ago, and we hit it off. He told me to contact him when I was in town so, low and behold, here I am. We met at 7 at Wharf 3 on the Circular Quay. He lives out in the suburbs, maybe 20 or so minutes away by rail, and doesn't hang out in the city very much. It definitely showed, he couldn't recommend a place for us to sit down and it. We wandered around for quite a while, looking for someplace that wouldn't bankrupt us. We were on George Street, the main drag, much of the time, and still didn't find anything that suited us. No matter really, we chatted the whole way, making small talk. Eventually we settled on Subway, a real local place, I know. Its ok, we both agreed we didn't want anything too fancy (fulfilled that requirement, that's for damn sure) and it was quick and cheap enough. After polishing off our sandwiches we made our way back to the Quay, where we hung out by the water and chatted some more, watching as couples, young and old, walked around in the cool evening air in honor of Saint Valentine. Eventually I began to fade, and we parted ways. We'll keep in touch, and I'm sure we will cross paths again.
And now here I am. The girls have literally just walked into the room, so I want to here what went on in their evening. Check out some photos from our day today while I do that.
Photos: The main foyer in the Sydney Opera House; a row of homes in Surry Hills; an example of Bauhaus architecture in Surry hills; Your Correspondent, on the way from Bronte Beach to Bondi; Hayley, looking lovely as always, also near Bondi Beach.
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