Sydney with Kym, Sandra and my dad
11/2 - 15/2 - 2008
We came home from Rocky late on the 10th, washed clothes all night and left for Sydney early on the 11th. We did not waste our time sleeping!!!! :)
Kym had found the perfect accommodation for us, right in the center of Sydney. It was an appartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a livingroom and a small kitchen and it was less than 15 mins walking from all the main sights.
We were very close to Darling Harbour and that was where we first went. Its a great place to experience the atmosphere of the city... and to get a cup of coffee :)
The bridge to Darling Harbour
And a cup of coffee.
I think Kym is having chocolates too :)
Kym had been in Sydney last year and she went on a Captain Cook Cruise, which she wanted us to experience, so we did and it was as good as she had said. It took us around the Sydney harbours and we saw the city from the seaside.
WOW!
Sydney skyline
We ended a long day with a late walk to The Rocks.
The Sydney Opera by night
The 12th was power sightseeing!
We bought tickets to the Sidney Explorer and the Bondi Explorer (Hop On / Hop Off busses) and then we went to see Sydney!
Sydney's famous Bondi Beach:
And coffee/lunch
St. Mary's Cathedral:
The Fish Markets:
Hyde Park:
Greyhounds :)
The Opera House:
The entrance - it is an amazing building
And it was designed by the Danish architect Utzon.
Tea Time:
Sandra, Kym and my dad
And finally Sydney Tower:
Can you imagine the view from up there?
Hyde Park and St. Mary's Church
13th was a quieter day - not quiet, but quieter :)
It was the Aboriginal Sorry Day - the day where the Aboriginal's got the apology they have wanted for years and quite an important day in Australia's history. We watch the official apology on TV and then we went by boat to Manly.
Aboriginal flag
Manly Beach
Back in Sidney Centre and Shopping time :). Poor dad!
Hey - a dancing dog doing a 'beg' in front of Queen Victoria Building in the middle of Sydney :)
14th of February - Valentine's Day :-)
We went one a day tour to Blue Mountains and Jenolan caves. We were picked up by a bus and drove for about 2½ hours to first stop at The Blue Mountains.
View from the bus
Kiri's (my first dancing dog) litter-brother was named 'Gardan Katoomba' and I have now been in Katoomba City and on Katoomba Mountain :-). Cool!
Statue by the entrance to the Katoomba mine
'The 3 sisters'.
According to the legend they were the daugher's of a medicine man. He tried to protect them during a war and used his magic to turn them into rocks. Unfortunately he died in the battle and nobody knows how to break the spell...
The 3 sisters
The medicine man and the 3 sisters
The Blue Mauntains
The haze that gives the Blue Mountains their name is caused by rays of light striking droplets of oil dispersed by gum trees.
Lizard - I liked the Australian lizards :)
To get from the parking area to the mountains, we had to take the 'railway'. It was a very very steep drive!!!! It felt like we drove vertically down - it was an 52 degrees angle - 45 degrees would have been vertical!
I kept my arms inside!!!!! :D
We watched the White Cockatoos while waiting for the 'train'.
Lots of them!
Doooooown....
That was where we came from....
The next 'train'
We use the cableway to get back up.
Much better for Kym's nerves :)
We left the Blue Mountains and went on to the Jenolan Caves, where we saw the Blue Lake and the Lucas Cave.
The Blue Lake is a very clean lake. It is blue because of the mineral from the rocks that dissolves in it.
Amazing, isn't it?!
Waterfall
The Jenolan Caves were discovered in 1838. There are 9 caves in all and the bigges of them is the Lucas Cave, where we went.
I slept most of the way back in the bus :), Long but good day!
The 15th was Kym, Sandra and my dad's last day in Sydney. I was to stay to teach a Dog Danicng workshop in the weekend.
We went to Paddy's markets - Sydney's biggest traditional markets. They have been there since the 1830s and they were worth a visit. I bought some t-shirts for my nephew :)
We went by Mono Rail to Paddy's Markets.
Kym, my dad and Sandra
Then back home to pack before I was picked up by Lorette from the dog club and the others went to the airport to fly back to Brisbane.