It was a bit of a bumpy flight and sleep wasn't forthcoming however I was sat next to an Australian though who I chatted with which passed some time and from who I got some good information. I checked in at the hostel- bit of a shock after nearly a month of hotel rooms and bungalows, had a couple of hours sleep- then up to explore a bit. It was a little overcast but very warm.
From Darling harbour I walked round to Sydney harbour to see the famous bridge and Opera House. Now the Opera House did look a bit smaller in real life than I'd imagined and I also hadn't realised that it was in 3 bits, rather than one. But that's often the way with icons- they've been hyped up so much that the real thing loses its impact. I was unfortunately reminded rather of the conference centre in Harrogate- I think because they both have quite a lot of exposed concrete and that's not a style I especially appreciate! However the roof is better!!
Still the harbour was beautiful and from the Opera house I walked round to a viewing point then back into the Botanical gardens. Here I saw huge fruit bats in big groups hanging from trees and rainbow lorikeets- surprising and lovely given the backdrop of skyscrapers in the CBD! Also the Wollemi pine cultivated here- thought to have been extinct until found a few years ago in the Blue mountains (although I think this a reoccuring theme with Australia's fauna and flora- no one actually knows if somethings are extinct or not but it's a jolly big place!).
From Darling harbour I walked round to Sydney harbour to see the famous bridge and Opera House. Now the Opera House did look a bit smaller in real life than I'd imagined and I also hadn't realised that it was in 3 bits, rather than one. But that's often the way with icons- they've been hyped up so much that the real thing loses its impact. I was unfortunately reminded rather of the conference centre in Harrogate- I think because they both have quite a lot of exposed concrete and that's not a style I especially appreciate! However the roof is better!!
Still the harbour was beautiful and from the Opera house I walked round to a viewing point then back into the Botanical gardens. Here I saw huge fruit bats in big groups hanging from trees and rainbow lorikeets- surprising and lovely given the backdrop of skyscrapers in the CBD! Also the Wollemi pine cultivated here- thought to have been extinct until found a few years ago in the Blue mountains (although I think this a reoccuring theme with Australia's fauna and flora- no one actually knows if somethings are extinct or not but it's a jolly big place!).
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