Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

February 1.2, 2009

After the relative calm of New Zealand, the noise and activity of Sydney are a bit of a shock. First impressions of the City is that it has grown along the American model with tall generic office buildings and lots of chain stores. It also seems a lot dirtier than we remembered it. As we walked around the first morning there I was astonished to see private security guards, carrying handguns, patrolling the main business and shopping streets.

Everywhere downtown there were signs saying that the area was under video surveillance. If being under surveillance makes a place safer then Sydney should be right up there at the top of the list.

Over the course of a couple of days we walked all along the waterfront, saw the bridge and opera house, the Botanical Garden (which is huge), the entire Australian navy (tied up in port), through Kings Cross (now a very upscale area instead of the interesting place it used to be), around Paddington and into Chinatown. We walked a lot.

The village areas, like Paddington, were great and as we remembered them. I tried to find a pub that I remembered spending a great deal of time in a long time ago but it was probably condemned 20 years ago. Either that or they went broke after I left.

One day we went to Manly on the ferry and walked the park track up on the big natural reserve on the harbour’s North Head. Great park and walk until I reminded Lana to keep an eye out for snakes. After that, she made me go first. Something about insurance. Oh and thanks to Norm at the Visitor’s Centre for talking about the fight to get the land declared a park after the Federal Government declared it surplus and was about to sell it. (Gee that sounds familiar).

Found a nice pub (called Scruffy Murphy’s) on Gouldburn Street near George St that night. Great meal deals like steak and mashed potatoes for $5.95 (if you buy a beer to go with it). Open 24/7 they have lots of drunken Irishman in the place all the time and a good breakfast special for $5.95 but only if you buy the beer to go with it. Good for that quick pick me up before work.

One night we watched a big parade to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year from their outside tables. The floats were all lit from the inside and many of the dancers and performers were wearing lights as well. Pretty cool.

Another night we went to an amazing BYOB Italian restaurant called Bar Reggio over about 10 blocks on Crown St. Outstanding food but the watching the staff and the customers was even better. If you get to Sydney, you have to try it. Really.

Fashions in Sydney are certainly more variable than either Toronto or Vancouver. We saw more types of summer dresses/frocks or whatever you want to call them in an hour thae you might in a week in Canada. I, of course, was watching only in my capacity as a unpaid amateur travel blogger. There are some downsides to the job after all.