Saturday, March 8, 2025

Sydney, Australia

We stayed at  Sydney Boulevard Hotel for five nights. Located in the Central Business District (CBD), it was easy walking distance to the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Australian Museum, Art Gallery of New South Wales, St. Mary's Basilica.... and of course lots of shopping and hundreds of bars and restaurants. The Boulevard was an older building and while it didn't have some amenities, like USB charging ports, it offered large rooms and a sauna and steam room in the gym. Our view overlooked the Domain,  and we could see Harbour Bridge and the wings of the Opera House peeking on the horizon.

Getting around our first few days we did the Hop On/Hop Off, a ferry tour, and trip up to the Sydney Tower Eye to get a good overview of the geography. Taking public transit was straightforward after that, tapping on and tapping off as we made our way around the city on buses and ferries. 

Circular Quay was a destination in itself, surrounded by iconic architecture. Adding to the ambience, an aboriginal playing the didgeridoo was often performing next to the docks. Sydney's Writers Walk is underfoot, celebrating the lives and works of Australian and other authors. 

Riding the ferries made for great sightseeing. A visit to Parramatta gifted us with a view of Sydney Harbour and gorgeous waterfront homes, clubs, and businesses.

Discovery Museum told the story of The Rocks from Pre-European days to the present. We visited more than once, and each time I learned more about the history of Australia, including the lives of convict settlers and indigenous heroes. We also went to the The Doss House a few times - an old world whiskey bar with one of its past lives as an  opium den. 



Because it was Mardi Gras, the Museums and Art Galleries were offering shows and exhibitions on the theme. On the night of the parade we grabbed a photo with a statuesque beauty. We also enjoyed brunch in the Gay Village at place called the Rusty Rabbit. It seemed the whole of Sydney was bursting with Pride.

 

The day we chose for our Blue Mountain day trip was a bit cloudy. Taking the train we passed stations with interesting names: Emu Plains, Bullaburra, Warrimooroo, Katoomba... Once we reached our destination high in the mountains, the clouds let go their rain. The historic town, galleries and hotels were interesting to poke around. Although the fog made it hard to see the vista, it was still a lot of fun exploring the antique stores and vintage shops. 


Other Sydney travels also in this blog


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