Author: Pete
Location: Sydney, Australia
We all flew down to Sydney for a couple days’ city fix before my folks headed back to the northern hemisphere. It felt a bit sacrilegious to be flying into one of the most spectacular harbor cities in the world with a perfectly good boat just a few (hundred) miles up the coast. But, better to see the city by land then not at all though.
Sydney is a stunning city, perfect for a couple days of nose-following. There are landmarks, topography, and waterfront to keep one’s orientation. Most of our time was spent finding new places to eat! You’d think we’d been on a diet of fish and coconut for years!
As we promenaded along the wharves one of the days we passed a floating building which turned out to be the cruise ship Carnival Spirit. It’s the enormous white monster in the picture that’s the as big as the Harbor Bridge. That was the same ship that almost ran us down at night in the Tasman Sea on our crossing! Okay, okay. He was four miles away, lit up like a Vegas Christmas, and very courteous on the radio. Still, I really wanted to knock on the hull and see if I could meet their radio officer. Thought that might not go over so well. Move along, small fry.
Another day we walked the Harbor Bridge with its sweeping views of the iconic Sydney Harbor. Ferries muscle through the waters throwing heavy wake and turning the protected bays into chop even on the windless day. I didn’t want to sail into the harbor anyway, says the fox of the grapes…
In our wanderings we met many of the white, feathered locals gathering to picnic in the parks around the city. These rambunctious cockatoos seemed to always congregate near dusk. Apparently people bring snacks for them often enough that the birds will alight on your shoulders or head looking for munchies. Cockatoos love munchies. Who doesn’t?
We happened to be in town when a David Bowe tribute was going on at the Sydney Opera House and got tickets to see the show. The Sydney Philharmonic was playing behind a rock band with ostentatious vocalists. I’m not sure if the professional orchestra musicians were incensed to be performing behind the oppressive screech of rock music (“Ugh. Really? Three notes in the whole song?”) or loved the novelty of it (“Yes! So sick of Chopin!“). Some got really into it, like the timpani player, hammering away on the kettle drums and the sax player who got to rip out on a screeching, jazzy solo. How often does he get to do that? Others, like the bassoonist, sat stock still, even through his solo. Bowe loved a good bassoon solo! Who doesn’t?
We also went to our first rugby match! It was very exciting to watch, something like a guessing game of what the rules might be. Despite our ignorance, it was a gorgeous evening to witness head injuries. Plus, Miranda loves the short shorts and huge legs on rugby guys. Who doesn’t?
And then it was time to head out! Back to the states for my folks, back to Brisbane keep working on selling the boat for us! Ciao Sydney! Thank you, and goodnight!
