Australian Tour Journal

Thursday, January 6
Today, I am in Sydney. The rest of the group is no doubt doing something fun back in Melbourne (I'll get that stuff posted as soon as I see them again) but for the next two days there will be impressions of my travel in Sydney.

I arrived in Sydney this morning a little groggy after a late night of celebration after the Opening Ceremony. But as soon as I set foot outside the airport, I was rejuvenated. This is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen! After checking into my hotel, I quickly got back out on the street and purchased a tour bus ticket. It's one of those things where you can hop on and hop off anywhere along the route all day long for one price. I highly recommend it...especially for folks who dont like to walk alot like me! I rode along for a while just trying to absorb everything around me...I felt like I couldnt take photos fast enough!

I got out at the Sydney Harbor Bridge first. Incredible. You can take a 3.5 hour tour called the Bridge Climb that lets you climb up over the top of the bridge and see these great views. I've been told there's nothing like it...but I decided to stay on the ground. Every tour book says that the locals refer to the bridge as "The Coat Hanger". I asked some locals and they told me that is definitely NOT TRUE. No Aussie calls it that...ever. Still it was pretty breathtaking. The Bridge, and across the harbor sits the Sydney Opera House (SOH). Fantastic! I'll only put up one of the almost two dozen photos I have of that building. It is incredible. I walked around the outside of it this afternoon. Just beauty everywhere you look. They are preparing for a big fundraiser concert this weekend to support the victims of the tsunami, so there was a lot of activity happening on the grounds. Tomorrow I plan to take a backstage tour of the opera house!

Did some shopping on Circular Quay, saw Cadman's Cottage (Sydney's oldest surviving dwelling and was originally built as barracks), and then made my way to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair. This is an area alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens and overlooks the harbor. It is named for the wife of the Governor in 1816 and was her favorite place. It is a chair built into the rocks. Legend says that women sit here and make a wish.

Hopped back on the bus and got off once again in the Kings Cross district. This area is full of cafes and restaurants and is very cosmopolitan housing some of the more affluent neighborhoods of Sydney. It is also the city's red light district. Saw a LOT of interesting things here...'nuff said on that.

My hotel is near the City Centre and Darling Harbor. The Queen Victoria Building is a huge, incredibly beautiful shopping centre that takes up several blocks. The Sydney Tower (the highest building is town) is here, along with Town Hall and several museums.

Oh, by the way, about that White Lady Funeral thing... We have it on authority from a local that White Lady Funerals is an exclusive funeral company. All of the funeral directors are women who wear white suits and fedoras. Their web page actually says they bury anybody...not just white ladies. Check out the White Lady Funeral web site.

I'm planning to explore more of Darling Harbor tonight and the Pyrmont Bridge area. I hear there is a casino there...

Friday, January 7

G'day mates! More sightseeing today. Started out with a backstage tour of the Opera House. We had a small group (6) so we could ask a lot of questions. Halfway thru the tour the guide says to me "You work in theatre, don't you?" I guess it was obvious by my questions! So I gave a plug for our shows in Melbourne. One couple will be in Melbourne next week and said they might check it out. Saw the El Alamein Fountain which is a WWII memorial. Locals murmur "he loves me, he loves me not" as they pass by because it looks like a big dandelion and has a reputation for working so spasmodically.

Spent some time in Paddy's Market where the fish markets are. Had some DELICIOUS Tasmanian salmon for lunch. Walked the Pyrmont Bridge, saw the National Maritime Museum, then got down to the serious business of shopping. Ugg Boots, Aboriginal artwork, boomerangs, didges...the lot. Packed up all my purchases and shipped them back home, so all y'all expectin' souvenirs will just have to wait a bit after we get back. Went up to the observation deck of the Sydney Tower to see the 360 degree views. It's 250 meters above sea level. I have no idea how many feet that is but let me tell you -- its REALLY HIGH!

Stay tuned...

The Sydney Opera House -- its gorgeous, cant say enough about it!	Mrs. Macquarie's Chair -- I'm not telling what I'm wishing for!
Kings Cross: Hip and cosmopolitan by day...red light district by night	Queen Victoria Building: The most beautiful shopping center in the world.
View from the Tower - breathtaking!	Another view - those are the Blue Mountains in the background