Thursday 31 December 2009

Relaxing in Sydney

We’ve spent the past five days taking it easy and doing a little “lite” sightseeing prior to our flight to Tasmania tomorrow.

It rained hard on Monday morning, but we needed some time to do laundry and reorganize after our week long bike trip, so spending a half day in the condo was not unwelcome. When we did venture out we went to Hyde Park to visit the Anzac Memorial and the Archibald Fountain before ending up at the Circular Quay and another look around the Opera House.

Tuesday was our day at the zoo; LB met us at the gate and gave us a quick tour of the zoo’s highlights before turning us loose. We took in the Free Flight Bird Show which is on par or better than a similar show we saw at Disney World a couple of years ago. As you can see from the picture, the view of Sydney Habour from the amphitheater is outstanding. We also enjoyed watching the elephant playtime; the six-month-old baby elephant was a hoot to watch as he tried to play soccer with the oversize soccer ball. The zoo grounds jut out into the harbor on Bradleys Head and have quite a bit of elevation change. We had taken the bus to the top to enter, so we took the Sky Safari cable car to the lower exit, then took a ferry back to Circular Quay and eventually the train back to St. Leonards.

Wednesday we wandered the grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden and its wealth of tropical plants, trees and birds. Scores of Sulphur-crested Cockattos, ibis and other birds we admired but could not identify, added to the enjoyment of the day. The view from Mrs. Macquaries Point gave us another perspective on the magnificent harbor.

New Year’s Eve day started a little rainy, but we didn’t care--we were staying in to rest up for the long night ahead. LB had furnished us with tickets to view the incredible fireworks display over the harbor from the zoo grounds (thanks LB--maybe we’ll take up residence in your kingdom). We left the condo a little before 1600, were on the zoo grounds by 1700, gates opened at 1800 and a few minutes later we had our blanket spread out on the grass with a great view of the harbor below. The zoo was closed, but we were allowed to wander around certain areas without the record setting crowds that we contended with on Tuesday. A band was playing in the amphitheater, the temps were in the high 70s and we were about to enjoy a premier event under a Blue Moon. At 2100 there was an eight minute tune-up for the big show at midnight. The midnight twelve minute fireworks display to welcome in 2010 was all we hoped it would be. It centered on the Harbour Bridge, but the action took place all over the harbor with barges, skyscrapers, and even the Sydney Tower as launch sites. There were many boats in the harbor dressed up with impressive light displays on the hulls, masts and sails. Once the excitement was over, we packed up, caught a shuttle to the a bus stop, then were swallowed up in a mass of humanity as we inched down the street to the rail station. We were home by 0140--an interesting ten hour experience that actually determined the timing of this trip Down Under.

The first day of 2010 has been spent relaxing, working on the blog and getting ready for Tasmania. We will have one night back in Sydney after the Tasmania trip and then off to New Zealand!!

Later, up over. Good New Year to you.

1 comment:

  1. I find it traitorous that you two are missing out on our record-threatening cold spell. Instead of sputtering helter-skelter around some island in the South Pacific, you could be facing the music - as we are - back in Snowville.

    Glancing over my shoulder at the digital, wireless, lithium-powered bringer of bad news - the outdoor thermometer, I see it's 16.1F here at twenty past one, PM. Outside, it is a winter goddam fairyland.

    Happy New Year. -Jim

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