Messages From Myanmar #18
Australian Vacation
Special - Part 3 of 6
10 September 2016
Photo Update Alert:
Day 7 - Sun., 08/21 -
Adelaide (and my 69th Birthday)
Our flight to Sydney being scheduled for late afternoon, we had time
to visit the Cleland Wildlife Park, near Mount Lofty. The day was clear and
cool, and we had a lovely time visiting with the kangaroos, wallabies, wombats,
emus, dingos, and koalas. The kangaroos are especially friendly and keen to eat
the animal food purchased at the visitors center. I can also testify that at
least one of the roos enjoyed having his back rubbed and chin skritched like a
cat.
After lunch, our exemplary host gave us a lift to the Adelaide
Airport, where we caught our flight to Sydney. Prearranged transport took us to
the Harbour Rocks Hotel, a boutique establishment located in “The Rocks,” where
the first English convict ships dropped anchor in 1788. We had supper in a
trendy and noisy eatery located near the Harbour Bridge. The walk up the steps
was tenuous and the food was average, but the view was outstanding.
Day 8 - Mon., 08/22 -
Sydney
Sydney is a scenic, sprawling, and very expensive city. It is also
convenient to navigate once you suss out the excellent public transportation
system. We started our day by walking out onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge to
take in the view. Deciding that halfway across was about right, we returned to
Circular Quay and boarded a ferry to the Australian Maritime Museum. As a
former sailor, this was a primo destination.
It is a great museum, comparable, in my opinion, to the National Air
and Space Museum in Washington, DC. We toured a submarine, a destroyer, and a
replica of the HMB Endeavor, Lt. (later Capt.) James Cook’s first command.
(A.J. and I had serious issues with the lack of overhead on both the sub and
the Endeavor.) In addition to the regular exhibits, we also took in a special
exhibition titled “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude.” We know
something of this history and find it utterly fascinating.
After a visit to the extensive gift shoppe (gotta visit the gift
shoppe), we decided to take the ferry back to the hotel and make arrangements
to meet some friends of ours, newly relocated to Sydney from London, for dinner
the next night. And as the rain settled in, so, too, did we.
Day 9 - Tues., 08/23 -
Sydney Opera House
I try to resist rhapsodizing, but the Sydney Opera House is one of
those works of humankind that lives up to the hype. Controversial, and completed
years behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget, it has become an
architectural embodiment of one of the most overused words in the English
language: Icon. Sydney is defined by it and, should you ever have an opportunity
to visit, GO!
We arrived for the first tour of the day and were taken in hand by
Bruce, a very entertaining and knowledgeable guide. We visited the Concert
Hall, where we listened to a youth orchestra warm up. (The sound is quite big.)
We sneaked into the Joan Sutherland Theatre just before they closed it for
rehearsals of “My Fair Lady,” directed by Dame Julie Andrews. (Dame Julie was
not in evidence.) We learned about personal drama and political intrigue, as
well as the brilliance of Danish engineering. It was a marvelous morning.
That afternoon, we took a ferry to Watson’s Bay, “Australia’s oldest
fishing village,” ate fish & chips at a local joint, and strolled along the
coastal walk, taking in views of Sydney on one side and the South Pacific on
the other. Very pleasant; then, back on the boat.
By this time, we were savvy enough to catch a train from Circular Quay
to Bondi Junction, where our aforementioned friends met us for dinner. We had
last seen them when they stayed at our apartment in Buenos Aires and were still
planning their move from England to Australia. They are lovely, talented, artistic
people and it was very special to visit with them again.
To be continued...
Rodger
Rodger
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