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[ Up ] [ Highway 32 Journal ] [ East Coast Journal ]
Australia Journal
We started our Australia journey in Sydney. To read our journals from our other Australia stops, just click the links at the top of the page.
(Lea) Sydney has topped both Keith's and my "Favorite Cities" list;
Chicago, New York and even Paris are still fantastic, but Sydney has edged them
out as the favorite. What I love most about Sydney is that walking around the city is a
joy. There are clean sidewalks which lead past harbors filled with boats, both
older Victorian brick buildings and modern skyscrapers, and parks full of ponds,
trees, plants and birds. As we walked through the Botanical Gardens on our way
to the Opera House, I noticed a sign that said, "Please walk on the
grass." I think that is great - a park that actually encourages people to
enjoy the grounds. The parks are there for everyone's enjoyment and filled with
people; despite the number of people the grounds are immaculate. Sydney also has
great character - there are diverse restaurants (after 4 months we finally were
able to fill our sushi craving - mmm), entertainment (we enjoyed the symphony at
the Sydney Opera House), and shopping (I found a used bookstore within blocks of
our hotel). Sydney is also a short distance from many
other attractions. Within minutes the subway or ferry can get you to the
beautiful beaches of Bondi or Manly; within a few hours you can get to Hunter
Valley vineyards or the Blue Mountains via train. Best of all the city is
full of some of the friendliest people I have ever met; everywhere we go people
great us with "g'days" and smiles.
(Keith) As you can see from the
pictures, the first thing we did upon
reaching Sydney was eat. After 4 months of being very paranoid about what
we ate, we were finally in a country where we could relax. Sydney has all
of the food choices one could wish for: steaks, sushi, hamburgers, thai,
indian, hogie sandwiches . . . endless. And best of all, we
could drink water from the tap! The picture of me is outside of a
"pie" stand; these pies are not filled with fruits and sugar, but
peas, carrots, meat, and potatoes. If you add a hot dog to the meal,
you've got all you could ask for. Also this stand is open 18 hours a day,
so it is almost always ready to serve a pie and a dog.
One of my favorite spots in Sydney is the Botanical Gardens; from there you can see the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. This is a great spot to exercise, read a book, or watch the harbor. The cockatoos and the well manicured grounds make this park a delight to visit. As Lea said, Sydney has become our favorite city because of its friendly people, clean streets, and great weather.
Check out our Sydney photos.