First Few Days - Sydney

After a brief 4 hour flight to Los Angeles, an enchanting 5 hour layover, and a refreshing 15 hour flight across the Pacific, we landed in Sydney bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6:30am!!  Not wanting to waste a moment, or admit that the ravages of jet lag were destroying our minds and bodies, we dropped off our luggage at our hotel and ventured out to experience this new city.

Our first stop was a weekly market at the old Carriageworks district.  With a mix of fresh produce, meats, bread, as well as prepared foods like sausage rolls, coffee, juices, pastries, and a fantastic Chinese pork bun, we left happily sated and ready to explore the city.  We were in Sydney for 3 days before flying to the Outback.

There is no more iconic sight in Sydney than the Opera House.  The colossal structure, which actually houses 5 separate performance halls (Opera, Symphony, and 3 dramatic/multi-purpose spaces) is astonishing.  We took a tour of the building that led us throughout the various lobbies and halls.

Views from the south plaza at night.

Another iconic sight from the waterfront is the Sydney Harbor Bridge, an extraordinary feat of engineering.  Pictures does not convey the absolute immensity of the bridge.  

An afternoon cruise of the harbor provided great views of the Opera House and many other parts of the city.

We hit a number of other sights around town as well, including:

Sydney's Botanic Gardens

State Library of New South Wales (the state in which Sydney is located), home to many treasures, including journals from Captain Cook's first voyage to Australia and Captain Bligh's journals that formed the basis of The Mutiny on the Bounty.

Outside the library is a statue of Matthew Flinders, who was the leader of the first circumnavigation of Australia, and who identified it as a continent.  Behind the statue on the left, you can see a smaller statue of his beloved cat, Trim, who accompanied him on the expedition.  

Art Museum of New South Wales, home to many pieces by Australian artists, as well as notable American and European artists.

Entrance to Sydney's Chinatown.

The incongruously named Paddy's Market, located in Chinatown, contained endless rows of dealers and stalls offering every product imaginable.

Dinner at a fantastic Malaysian restaurant, including lamb curry, chicken with savory peanut sauce, and roti (a paper thin bread) with dipping sauces.

The ANZAC Memorial to soldiers from the combined Australia/New Zealand forces that typically fight in wars.

That's a taste of the first few days.  We're in the Outback now, and will follow up with another post soon.