Sydney!!

Wednesday 3rd Nov..

There was many reasons to visit Sydney, to see old friends, harbour bridge and of course the opera house. It was just deciding when? However, our decision was made when Wolfie was invited to and accepted a 2 day conference with a well known prosthetic company. All I had to do was get myself a cheap flight, around the same time as his and meet him at Sydney airport.

We had a great few days even if we did take the bad weather with us. We managed to get as much sightseeing in as possible, bridge climb, opera tour, ferry to Manley and hop-on-hop-off buses. Needless to say the rain didn't stop us.

We arrived in the evening, eventually found each other (after arriving at different terminals), then went to meet our chauffeur hoping he wouldn't mind a stow-away...

As we where driven through the city I was quite taken with what I saw...bright lights - big city and all that...and so excited to see the Opera house. 

Arriving at our hotel Wolfie checked in while I tried to blend in, reason being, I was not supposed to be part of his room deal -  and that included breakfast.

After a quick change there was free drinks and (amazing) canapés in one of the function rooms...so we helped ourselves to a drink or three, something to eat...then hit the city. Honestly, there was only so much mingling we wanted to do. We where really there for the Sydney sights.

The next 4 pictures are taken with my phone so they are a bit grainy, but you can get the gist..

Two of my favourite things - Wolfie & Mojito's

This was our first view of the Opera house...and quite honestly I was overcome with emotion..

Thursday 4th Nov

Breakfast was early very early and while Wolfie checked in I walked through with a large group of people so as not to be noticed. After breakfast, I went for a morning nap & Wolfie went to his conference. Later I went for a wander around the city, museums, window shopping, people watching, coffee and a good book.

Late afternoon we got ready for our bridge climb, something I was quite nervous about.

As we neared the climb centre I looked up and noticed a sign and couldn't help thinking if it was a bad omen...the next moment, it started to rain.........

While waited to be kitted out with our climb gear we wandered around the museum dedicated to the bridge. 

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks (we should know, we took a million photo's of it). It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

Fondly known by the locals as the 'Coathanger', the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 70th birthday in 2002, with its official opening in March 1932.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924 and took 1,400 men eight years to build at a cost of £4.2 million. Six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction. It now carries eight traffic lanes and two rail lines, one in each direction, but at the time of its construction the two eastern lanes were tram tracks. They were converted to road traffic when Sydney closed down its tram system in the 1950s.

One of Australia's well-known celebrities, Paul Hogan (otherwise known as Crocodile Dundee), was once part of a workforce virtually permanently employed repainting the Bridge, in that they started another coat of paint after finishing the last.

As for the bridge climb.. Well it wasn't on the top of Wolfie's list, in fact he hadn't heard of it before I told him...but so glad we did it!

The whole experience was amazing even if did rain on the way down! They really looked after us from assisting us with all the gear to a practice run. We where warm and importantly, safe.

Nothing loose is allowed up, you can't even have any bobby grips in your hair and if you wear glasses they supply a head band for them. All the equipment, jacket, hat, head light etc are attached to a belt they provide. Last but not least we were attached to the bridge it's self.

As we made are assent, climbing through catwalks up ladders and stairs, my nerves quickly disappeared... the view was so incredible it literally rendered me speechless (something that doesn't happen very often). 

For me, I think the beauty of lights at night made even more special. This truly is something neither of us will ever forget......

Friday 5th Nov

....in the morning we took a ferry from Circular Quay north to Manley. The ferry service in Sydney shuttles tourists to and from various destinations just like catching a bus. We only had the morning together so our visit to Manley was brief..

Smile!

Fort Denison

Circular Quay

Of course we had to have a photo...

After checking out of the hotel we went out for dinner over looking the quay. We then took the 40min train journey to Sutherland where we were, very kindly, offered to stay with an old friend Michele & her husband Mick. Both Wolfie and I used to work with Michele at RJAH & 5yrs ago Michele moved to Sydney.


Michele and Mick's place was lovely. High up at Gray's point, over looking Hacking River and the Royal National Park. I have to say, a wonderful place to live.

Saturday 6th Nov

...on the train early (thank you for the lift Michele) and back into Sydney for our tour of the opera house...

The Sydney Opera House must be one of the most recognisable images of the modern world - up there with the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building - and one of the most photographed. Not only is it recognisable, it has come to represent 'Australia'.

Although only having been open since 1973, it is as representative of Australia as the pyramids are of Egypt and the Colosseum of Rome.

The Opera House is situated on Bennelong Point, which reaches out into the harbour. The skyline of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the blue water of the harbour and the Sydney Opera House, viewed from a ferry or from the air, is dramatic and unforgettable. Ironic, perhaps, that this Australian icon - the Opera House with a roof evocative of a ship at full sail - was designed by renowned Danish architect - Jorn Utzon.

In the late 1950s the New South Wales (NSW) Government established an appeal fund to finance the construction of the Sydney Opera House, and conducted a competition for its design. Utzon's design was chosen. The irony was that his design was, arguably, beyond the capabilities of engineering of the time. Utzon spent a couple of years reworking the design and it was 1961 before he had solved the problem of how to build the distinguishing feature - the 'sails' of the roof.

The venture experienced cost blow-outs and there were occasions when the NSW Government was tempted to call a halt. In 1966 the situation - with arguments about cost and the interior design, and the Government withholding progress payments - reached crisis point and Jorn Utzon resigned from the project. The building was eventually completed by others in 1973. 

After more than 30 years, the Sydney Opera House had its first interior designed by Utzon. The Utzon room, a transformed reception hall that brings to life Jorn Utzon's original vision for his masterpiece, was officially opened on September 16 2004.

The tour was fantastic, the lady who led the tour was first class and her enthusiasm was catching. Well worth the visit....


For the rest of the day we took 2 hop-on-hop-off bus tours. The first around the city the second including Bondi beach...

A fantastic mix of old and new...

Wild boar outside the Sydney hospital...apparently if you rub it's nose it brings luck.

Cake!

Here we are amusing ourselves under our umbrella on the open top bus

We weren't the only ones... 

Rain.....

Bondi Beach

......much like Woodside in Telford if you ask me.....

Ok so we got a little bored.....

Hop-on-hop-off tours are usually a great way to see the sights, but to be honest, once you have seen the main places of interest what else is there... It didn't help that it was raining and we sat on the top deck...the tour guide was struggling to to keep us/everyone interested........


One place we got off at was The Rocks.


The Rocks, a 19th century village hemmed in by Sydney cove, Cambells Cove and Walsh Bay, lies in the shadow of the southern end of the Harbour Bridge.


We had a great time there, wandering amongst the hustle and bustle of the vibrant market''s, shop's and cafe's. Tasting local delicacies and spoilt for choice with the wide array of beautiful hand made crafts.. I could have spent a lot of dollar...

Okay, so Wolfie wasn't exactly excited about....being made to wear this. However the children in the crowd loved it.

Late afternoon we where back at Michele & Mick's house for a  bbq, great food, great view and great company. The T-bone steaks where amazing.

Have I mentioned the wildlife here? Well, living at Michele's place you are never alone.....

Michele was telling us she has to be careful not to leave the patio doors open.  Forgetting to close them once a little thief was found helping it's self to the fruit bowl in the kitchen. 

 Sadly we had to leave (very early) for flight back home..

......I just realised I am now calling Adelaide home....

Anyway, we want to thank Michele and Mick for having us to stay, looking after us and making us feel so welcome. We where just sad we didn't have more time with you.