Having arranged with Lorna and Brian that we would have a day out together, they picked us up at 10.00am and we drove along the Paramatta River (or as close as we could get to it) into the city. It was roasting hot again. So Brian dropped Lorna and me off near the Aquarium and he and Tom went off to park the car. Even though we haven’t seen much of each other for the past 30something (!!) years, our friendship was so easy to pick up again. Of course, a lot has happened to both of us during that time so there was plenty of catching up to do. Neither of us has kept in touch with many people from school but on the whole, they are the same ones. Although we hadn’t met Brian before this holiday, we all got on really well and the conversation never flagged.
Sydney Aquarium is just sensational – it knocks Kelly Tarlton’s Underwear (!! See Amy’s comment on 23rd February) World into a cocked hat! It’s several times bigger and there are lots more species of aquatic life there, held in beautifully clean tanks – there were divers constantly cleaning the inside of the underwater viewing tunnels and the huge tanks, all the time – Lorna said that is normal. There are some scarily large sharks
and all manner of fantastic fish, including a Great Barrier section where you have to see the fish to believe the colours. It was quite hard to tear ourselves away.
As we walked back to the car, Brian gave us snippets of information on the Rocks area, which, as the name suggests, is built on great slabs of natural rock. Like many other rundown waterside spaces, there is a constant rebuilding programme in progress. Most of the area round the harbours and quays has already been developed, but one area which used to be the terminal for the Tasmanian ferries is now undergoing a complete facelift. Yet more luxury apartments are to be built there several storeys high, blocking the view of many of the existing buildings, including some historical old terrace houses, which are some of the oldest buildings in Sydney. Such is progress!!
We piled into the car again and drove to just under the approach to the Harbour Bridge - still in the Rocks area, but closer to Circular Quay. We had some lunch at a small but very popular café near the Tourist Office – very yummy - then set off to climb one of the towers of the Bridge.
Climbing the Bridge itself is meant to be one of the “must do’s” of a visit to Sydney, but no way was I going to torture myself, or show myself up, and at a minimum cost of AU$179, it is expensive, so the lookout tower is the next best thing. There are 137 steps from the start of the climb near the Tourist Office just to get to bridge level, then a short walk to the tower, Picton Lookout. Once inside, there are 70 steps to the first level and pay desk (very crafty having that part way up so it whets your appetite) where you have to pay AU$9 for the privilege of testing your endurance up the rest of the way. Another 79 steps get you to the shop, then a further 53 agonising steps await before you can look out on some brilliant views of Sydney.
It was worth it! With the wind whistling through your hair, you can watch the poor s**s putting themselves through the bridge climb, all roped together and clinging on to the handrails. The traffic thunders past underneath but you don’t feel it in the tower at all.
You’re surrounded by a nice tall, solid stone balustrade topped with a thick glass barrier with platforms to stand on around the edge so you can see all round but still feel no pulling over – those of you who suffer from vertigo will know exactly what I mean. It was almost a shame to have to come down!
Once down at bridge level, Lorna, Tom and I walked to the centre of the bridge where there is a seat so you know you’re right in the middle, then we walked back
– so, in effect, we walked over the bridge. Brian had gone back to the car to top up the fee as we’d spent longer than we thought on lunch and the climb, so we rejoined him and made a quick visit to the oldest church in Sydney, before setting off for their place. Brian drove back yet another way so we could see more of Sydney – there are so many places we didn’t get to see, but you’d have to spend several weeks here to even visit half of the historical or interesting places.
We spent a nice relaxing evening being fed and watered, meeting their son, Graham, and taking photos of 2 rainbow lorrakeets who come every evening into their garden to be fed.
The conversation never stopped and it was with great difficulty we had to leave. They drove us home at about 9.30pm. They will be home in UK in June, so we will hopefully be able to return their hospitality then.
So that was the end of yet another memorable day.
Sydney Aquarium is just sensational – it knocks Kelly Tarlton’s Underwear (!! See Amy’s comment on 23rd February) World into a cocked hat! It’s several times bigger and there are lots more species of aquatic life there, held in beautifully clean tanks – there were divers constantly cleaning the inside of the underwater viewing tunnels and the huge tanks, all the time – Lorna said that is normal. There are some scarily large sharks
and all manner of fantastic fish, including a Great Barrier section where you have to see the fish to believe the colours. It was quite hard to tear ourselves away.As we walked back to the car, Brian gave us snippets of information on the Rocks area, which, as the name suggests, is built on great slabs of natural rock. Like many other rundown waterside spaces, there is a constant rebuilding programme in progress. Most of the area round the harbours and quays has already been developed, but one area which used to be the terminal for the Tasmanian ferries is now undergoing a complete facelift. Yet more luxury apartments are to be built there several storeys high, blocking the view of many of the existing buildings, including some historical old terrace houses, which are some of the oldest buildings in Sydney. Such is progress!!
We piled into the car again and drove to just under the approach to the Harbour Bridge - still in the Rocks area, but closer to Circular Quay. We had some lunch at a small but very popular café near the Tourist Office – very yummy - then set off to climb one of the towers of the Bridge.
Climbing the Bridge itself is meant to be one of the “must do’s” of a visit to Sydney, but no way was I going to torture myself, or show myself up, and at a minimum cost of AU$179, it is expensive, so the lookout tower is the next best thing. There are 137 steps from the start of the climb near the Tourist Office just to get to bridge level, then a short walk to the tower, Picton Lookout. Once inside, there are 70 steps to the first level and pay desk (very crafty having that part way up so it whets your appetite) where you have to pay AU$9 for the privilege of testing your endurance up the rest of the way. Another 79 steps get you to the shop, then a further 53 agonising steps await before you can look out on some brilliant views of Sydney. It was worth it! With the wind whistling through your hair, you can watch the poor s**s putting themselves through the bridge climb, all roped together and clinging on to the handrails. The traffic thunders past underneath but you don’t feel it in the tower at all. You’re surrounded by a nice tall, solid stone balustrade topped with a thick glass barrier with platforms to stand on around the edge so you can see all round but still feel no pulling over – those of you who suffer from vertigo will know exactly what I mean. It was almost a shame to have to come down!Once down at bridge level, Lorna, Tom and I walked to the centre of the bridge where there is a seat so you know you’re right in the middle, then we walked back
– so, in effect, we walked over the bridge. Brian had gone back to the car to top up the fee as we’d spent longer than we thought on lunch and the climb, so we rejoined him and made a quick visit to the oldest church in Sydney, before setting off for their place. Brian drove back yet another way so we could see more of Sydney – there are so many places we didn’t get to see, but you’d have to spend several weeks here to even visit half of the historical or interesting places.We spent a nice relaxing evening being fed and watered, meeting their son, Graham, and taking photos of 2 rainbow lorrakeets who come every evening into their garden to be fed.
The conversation never stopped and it was with great difficulty we had to leave. They drove us home at about 9.30pm. They will be home in UK in June, so we will hopefully be able to return their hospitality then.So that was the end of yet another memorable day.
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