Sydney Day Two

Wow! What a busy and beautiful day. Started out this morning walking through an area called "Rocks". It is the area where the British colonial expatriates (primarily English convicts and their families) settled in 1788. Since the United States had won independence from Britian, they needed a new place to send the undesirables so chose Australia. The Rocks area became a lively settlement with a rough-and-tumble reputation where bawdy taverns, warehouses, and houses of ill repute were common. Today it is a picturesque location amidst the sandstone outcroppings (which gave it it's name) with older homes being renovated, fine shopping and dining establishments, and cobbled stone streets.

The Garrison Church founded in 1840.

The Parish Hall school ran by the church and where the first prime minister had his primary education.

Next we walked to the Circular Quay (pronounced Key) to take a harbor cruise. It was really great to see the city from the harbor. 

This is the old Customs House which now serves as a public library.

Garden area around the wharf.

A large stone map of the city with our program tour director Darrin pointing out various places.

Old Fort Denninson - the British built it to protect the harbor from the Russians.

$3 - $5 million homes/apartments (what we would call condos).

The entry way from the ocean into the harbor.

We went under the harbor bridge.

You could see the bridge climbers on top.

The Anzac Bridge

The Maritime Museum

After our harbor cruise a small group of us went to the top of the tower for lunch. There were some spectacular views of the city as we rotated around. The lunch buffet was really good as well.

This shows the shadow of the tower in the park below.

After lunch we just roamed around downtown for a while. Saw some old buildings and beautiful churches.

The clock tower of city hall.

Inside city hall.

Inside a small Baptist Church. Would have fit right in back at home.

Got back to the hotel in time to get ready for the symphony concert at the Sydney Opera House. What a way to end the day! The experience was fantastic. Couldn't believe that I was sitting in the world famous opera house listening to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.