M.A. Travel Blogs: August 2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Australia! Sydney episode 16 final chapter

One just cannot take too many pictures of Sydney harbor, the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and quays. Today we witnessed another couple of angles. Our most adept tour guide, Matt spent the first half of our free day making sure we had the opportunity for new exploration. He took us on the Sydney tram across the quay to walk back on the harbor bridge. Brilliant! It was so cool and did not cost a cent. For a about $300 AUD you can climb to the top of the bridge. It is exceedingly high and a bit spendy. We had quite nice view from the footpath and a very doable elevation. He took us to the nearby art museum to the cafe for another outstanding view of the harbor .... when there is not a cruise ship in port... like there was today. Oh well, it was a beautiful day to see the bridge. :)
From there we all scattered to our own experiences of this interesting city. Candace, Brenda and I chose a walking tour. So much history from the origins of this city built by convicts. 23,907 steps later, chose to let Candace and Brenda go shopping while I retired to the nearest pub to quench that powerful thirst we worked up.
Tonight our farewell dinner. So appreciative of each person in this travel group. One could not have asked for better travel companions. Our guide, Matt, was the best guide to date. Feel most grateful to have had this good fortune for his skillful guidance and a most excellent group. Keep traveling and continue your curiosity of this world.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Australia! Sydney Exploration episode 15 part 3

All this touring worked up a bit of hunger, lunch in the Rocks Cafe. This area originally was sandstone and where the convicts were employed to quarry the stone to to be used as building material. Next stop was an Opal shop. The owner gave us a most interesting tour. The majority of gem quality opals are mined in Australia. Who knew?! We also go a look at the world's largest opal. The high quality gems are a bit out of my/our price range... We all scattered to explore on our own. BJ, Candace and I set out to find, what else could it be...the Hard Rock Cafe! Success! On our way explored the Pitt Street Mall, Queen Victoria building, Pymont pedestrian swing bridge and Darling Harbor.
Tomorrow our last day before the trek home. Check back for more pics of the Sydney Harbor and more.

Australia! Sydney Opera House episode 15 Part 2

The famous Opera House! A multi venue performance center housing 6 stages internally and one outside. Ground broke in 1959 to begin construction. It was not completed until 1973. Cost was $102 million equivalent to $927 in 2018 dollars. It went over budget by $95 million. Pretty sure they have made up that deficit and mire by now. We went in a tour of the complex. Fabulous! We poked into several of the theatres in which one the Sydney orchestra was rehearsing. No photos allowed. It was cool to hear them.

Australia! Sydney! Episode 15 part 1

Sydney! The crowning jewel city if this most fascinating continent. Also it is the oldest city founded in the late 1700's. Today started out with a coach tour of some of coastal highlights. The first stop on Farm Cove to get our first view of the famous Sydney Harbor. It was most impressive in the morning light. Of course we all now have about 40-50 pics of the opera house and harbor bridge... sat on Mrs McQuaries chair. She was the wife of the first territorial governor. Not exactly thrilled to be in a so remote area of the world. She would sit here to wait for and watch ships come into the harbor so she would have someone to talk to. Swung over to South Head Park and a stunning view of the entrance to the harbor. Next we drove through the "high rent" district - Woolloomooloo. Try pronouncing that. On to the harbor to take a ferry to Circular Quay and another 30-40 pics of the Opera House and harbor.