From Uluru to Sydney - from desert to world metropolis

A comfortable 3,5 hours flight (like from Hannover to Canary islands 😏) brings us to the 5 million metropolis of Sidney. The view from the airplane is already exciting, showing a city around lots of beautiful bays. The city itself is relatively small, with skyscrapers mainly hosting world banks, consultants, and insurances. And surrounded by bays, beaches, suburbs...

Our pretty old B&B, Simpsons of Potts Points, is perfectly situated, just 20 minutes walk to the botanical gardens, 30 minutes walk to the Opera House, and 35 minutes to the circular quays. They are a central point to go by boat to the different suburbs of Sydney, like Watsons Bay, Manly Beach, the famous Bondi Beach. Boats are organized like public transportation (trams, busses) in Germany: you buy a ticket and enter one of the boats that go regularly in short time to different parts of the city. That's giving a very nice and relaxed feeling. 

Our first day we walked through the very pretty botanic gardens, showing plants which we would call exotic, but which are at home in Australia. I am deeply impressed by the huge trees and colorful flowers. And nearly nothing looks like in Europe! We observe several groups of school classes doing their lessons in the gardens. All in school uniforms. Arriving at the Opera House we have the chance to participate immediately in a tour through this exciting building. We never experienced an architecture like this! Fascinating! Build by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon in the 1960's to 70's it is meantimes a UNESCO world heritage in a row with the Egypt pyramids, the Chinese wall, and the Tay Mahal. We are completely overwhelmed. And can grasp tickets for the premiere of the ballet Manon for the next evening! 

Then we do a tour to Manly. Wow, nice beach, excellent (Danish!) ice cream, we walk along the beach, I drop my rucksack down the rocks, but get it back by climbing down. Than a nice walk along the coast, going back by bus to the wharf, where we enjoy a pizza and a beer at the waterfront. We talk to young ladies from London, Kanada, the waitress from northern Germany, and, believe it or not, two Australiens! A real melting pot, this country. The boat tour back to Sidney downtown is lovely, in the darkness, seeing the lights of the city and the Opera House lighted.

After seeing north head on our first day, we continue with south head on our second day. As the day before we start with a walk through the botanic gardens, which I like very much. All the plants and trees are so different from the vegetation in Europe. We take a fast ferry at the Circular
Quays and leave at Watsons Bay. We walk along the beach, through the streets and final,y reach the point where Sir Arthur Philipp first landed in 1798?? . The views are spectacular!! As it is very hot, I need a break and we have lunch at a nice restaurant. Then we take the bus to famous Bondi Beach where we go for a swim. We leave to go back to our hotel, to dress up for the evening, as we want to meet Linda in town. We have a wonderful evening together!! Thank you Linda for showing us around. The bar on 47th floor is a great show, for locals only, there are no signs or ads anywhere. Sunset in Sydney! Then we stroll down to Darling Harbour and eat and talk a lot. 

The third day is relaxing day! We need to organize our rental car and have a haircut. In the afternoon we go to an art exhibition near our hotel. It is quite nice but we are tired and return to the hotel to dress up for Sydney Opera House. We have tickets for the premiere of Manon, presented by the Australian Ballett. A wonderful evening, which starts with a surprise. While we are having a drink before the show starts, a huge ocean liner leaves the quays. Stunning views!!! 

Impressions from our B & B: