Sidney, Australia

November 2016 -- Part of my 6-month sabbatical included a 3-week study tour of Australia and New Zealand. Mary Beth and Kathy were my travel companions. Our adventure began in Sidney, Australia. After arriving at the airport, we rented a car (an SUV). It wasn't long before we had to return the car. 

Not long after leaving the airport (less than 30 minutes), I clipped off the passenger-side mirror. I hadn't gotten used to driving on the wrong side of the road yet. I was driving too far left. We circled back, but couldn't find the mirror. We got another car at the airport and proceeded to our hotel.

We spent the next day exploring Sidney. We booked a ticket on a double-decker hop-on hop-off bus: the Sydney & Bondi Explorer. It was a good way to get around and see the city.

Sidney waterfront

The only Koala bear we saw in Australia

We saw the most famous landmark in Sidney and one of the most distinct buildings in the world: the Sidney Opera House. It looked like clam shells. It is considered to be a masterpiece of 20th century architecture. The Opera House is located on the foreshore of Sidney Harbor. We walked around it and peeked inside.  Nothing was going on at the time. It would have been neat to have gone to a show inside. Not an opera. I don't like opera. Maybe a George Strait concert.

Sidney Opera House

A masterpiece of architecture

Kathy and Mary Beth in front of the Opera House

The other iconic landmark in Sidney is the Sidney Harbor Bridge. It is nicknamed the "coat-hanger" because of its arched design. It is the 10th longest spanning arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge. The bridge formally opened in 1932 and crosses the Parramatta River (nobody knows that). I had wanted to climb the bridge, but we didn't have time and I didn't know if my travel companions would have wanted to. Paul Hogan, a.k.a., Crocodile Dundee, helped build the bridge.

Sidney Harbor Bridge

Tallest steel arch bridge in the world

We took a ride on the Sidney Ferris Wheel. Ferris Wheels seem to be common in big cities. The Sidney Ferris Wheel offered great views of the harbor. It consisted of 24 open-air gondolas. It reached almost 100 feet at its highest point. We enjoyed our ride and the views below.

Sidney Ferris Wheel

We got off the bus at Bondi Beach, one of Australia's most iconic beaches and one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia. Bondi Beach is located just 4 miles from Sidney's central business district. The beach is 0.6 miles long and is known for its huge waves. Cowabunga!  The area was very touristy. We ate there. I had fish and chips, including a pile of French Fries (chips) so big I'll never forget.

Iconic Bondi Beach

Beach volleyball

Rocky beach

Graffiti wall

Surfer code

When I made hotel reservations for Sidney, I did not realize the hotel (the Ultimo) was in Sidney's Chinatown. It didn't matter, though it limited our food choices to Chinese.  I felt like I had traveled to Australia, only to end up in China. On the plus side, there was a large market nearby where we could buy stuff cheaper.  I bought a thick Australia sweatshirt, which I still frequently wear. We stayed at the Ultimo again, before our flight to New Zealand.

In front of our hotel: The Ultimo

Chinatown

Chinese market