After spending a full day learning about the Opera House, we spent the next few days exploring other sites in Sydney, wandering through its many shops, sampling some of the great food and catching up with a couple of US expats who have come to call this city home.
Our Sydney Apartment
First, I want to quickly mention where we stayed in Sydney - The Meriton Apartments on Campbell Street in Chinatown. These apartments were great - spacious, fully-equipped and right around the corner from Sydney's main thoroughfare, George Street. There is a free bus that runs up and down George Street during the day, which we used daily to get around to some of the main attractions. Being in Chinatown (and Thai Town), it's also located near tons of great restaurants. We ate Thai food twice while we were there!
Our Sydney Apartment
First, I want to quickly mention where we stayed in Sydney - The Meriton Apartments on Campbell Street in Chinatown. These apartments were great - spacious, fully-equipped and right around the corner from Sydney's main thoroughfare, George Street. There is a free bus that runs up and down George Street during the day, which we used daily to get around to some of the main attractions. Being in Chinatown (and Thai Town), it's also located near tons of great restaurants. We ate Thai food twice while we were there!
Meriton Apartments
Walking Tour
One day we joined up with the Sydney Free Walking Tour. This is a great way to get an orientation to the city (and it's free). The guides work for tips, so it's up to you how much to leave. We met our guide downtown at 10:30am and spent the next 3 hours seeing most of the major sights in the downtown area and learning about the city's history. Here are a few things we learned about this city:
One day we joined up with the Sydney Free Walking Tour. This is a great way to get an orientation to the city (and it's free). The guides work for tips, so it's up to you how much to leave. We met our guide downtown at 10:30am and spent the next 3 hours seeing most of the major sights in the downtown area and learning about the city's history. Here are a few things we learned about this city:
Panoramic view of The Rocks, Sydney's oldest neighborhood.
Part of the neighborhood called The Rocks. Back in the day, this used to be a really tough area full of gangs. Our guide told us that the gangs used to "sock" their enemies. They would fill a sock with wet sand and beat their enemy repeatedly on bare skin. If a police officer approached them they would just empty the sock. No weapon, no arrest. Today this area is full of bars and cafes and is a popular place to go out.
Hero of Waterloo pub, Sydney's oldest bar. This place would occasionally give an unsuspecting patron lots of free drinks until he was so drunk, he passed out. When he came to in the morning, he would find himself out to sea on a working ship. The bar owners would sell their drunk patrons as indentured servants to the ships at the dock down the street!
Sydney's post office. The bell in the tower has the word "Eternity" written inside of it. Many years ago someone began writing "Eternity" in random places throughout Sydney. For 30 years nobody knew who it was. Finally it was discovered that a man named Arthur Stace was behind the work. He was a former soldier, criminal and alcoholic until he became a born again Christian. Upon hearing a sermon about eternity, he decided to wake up early every morning and write the word in different places around Sydney. Now it has become a symbol of the city.
This sky tower is often called the Golden Bucket. We didn't go up, but we've heard there is a bar just below the sky deck that's worth a visit on a clear day.
A street art exhibit - birdcages!
Another day, we spent the morning walking through the beautiful botanic gardens:
Botanic Gardens
View from the botanic gardens
Later that morning we also visited the New South Wales Art Gallery, which was fantastic. It's free during the day and it has a variety of pieces including classical, impressionism, expressionism, modern and aboriginal art. Here are a few examples of what we saw:
Gallery of NSW
I loved the aboriginal art!
Aboriginal sculptures
19th century art
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PIcasso
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Chris, puzzled by this modern art exhibit. What does it all mean?!
We spent the afternoon exploring a few different neighborhoods including Darlinghurst & Surry Hills. We had lunch at a little diner-like placed called the Tropicana Cafe and then got gelato at Messina. The banana caramel cheesecake was delish, rivaling the gelato we had in Italy.
A Night in Bondi
One evening we got together with my friend from Chicago, Maureen, and her husband Doug. These two used to live in Chicago but didn't meet until they both lived in Sydney. They now live in an adorable house near Bondi Beach and are loving life in Sydney. Maureen and Doug showed us around Bondi where we had drinks by the beach at a colorful little open air bar. Then we went to The Hill for margaritas and a variety of awesome food. The service was great as was the food and we ended up closing down the restaurant that night. Thank you Maureen & Doug for a great night out in Bondi!
One evening we got together with my friend from Chicago, Maureen, and her husband Doug. These two used to live in Chicago but didn't meet until they both lived in Sydney. They now live in an adorable house near Bondi Beach and are loving life in Sydney. Maureen and Doug showed us around Bondi where we had drinks by the beach at a colorful little open air bar. Then we went to The Hill for margaritas and a variety of awesome food. The service was great as was the food and we ended up closing down the restaurant that night. Thank you Maureen & Doug for a great night out in Bondi!
Chris, me, Maureen, & Doug after dinner in Bondi!
The Hill in Bondi. Great margaritas!
A Manly Last Day
On our last day, we explored Manly Beach, which is a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay (near the Opera House). The ferry ride was great because of the fabulous views of the bridge and the Opera House. We arrived in Manly around lunch time so we at a couple of burgers right across the street from the beach. Once our bellies were full, we sauntered over to the beach and snoozed for a couple of hours. It was spring break in Sydney so all the high school kids were at the beach sporting their neon-colored bikinis, oddly shaped cut-offs, and insanely large tank tops. I even spotted a few pairs of overall jean shorts. I felt like I was on the set of an early episode of 90210, except everyone had Australian accents and regularly attacked each other with the footy (what they call a rugby ball).
On our last day, we explored Manly Beach, which is a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay (near the Opera House). The ferry ride was great because of the fabulous views of the bridge and the Opera House. We arrived in Manly around lunch time so we at a couple of burgers right across the street from the beach. Once our bellies were full, we sauntered over to the beach and snoozed for a couple of hours. It was spring break in Sydney so all the high school kids were at the beach sporting their neon-colored bikinis, oddly shaped cut-offs, and insanely large tank tops. I even spotted a few pairs of overall jean shorts. I felt like I was on the set of an early episode of 90210, except everyone had Australian accents and regularly attacked each other with the footy (what they call a rugby ball).
Departing downtown Sydney on the ferry to Manly Beach.
Another cool view of the Opera House.
Arrived at Manly. Chris is being manly for Manly.
Strolling through Manly's main drag.
Spring break at Manly beach.
Manly
Ocean, beach, & tea? Sounds like a perfect combo.
We had a great time in Sydney. It's a fantastic, diverse, and lively city. I only wish it was closer to the States!
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