Thank you to two very kind Sydney residents who have restored our faith in the city! We must have picked the wrong people to ask for directions / help previously because today two unprompted acts of kindness have warmed our hearts. Firstly a lovely lady offered to help us if we needed directions, when we were looking at our street map - we had a great chat about the city & were thankful for her kindness even though we knew where we were going (this time). Secondly, as we passed one of the Sydney Festival booths, a young man gave us two tickets to the open air cinema on the harbourside by the Botanical Gardens, for tonight's showing of Crazy Stupid Love. He explained that he had bought the tickets ( $33each) & now couldn't go - no catch - didn't want anything for them! We went & it was great - a good rom/com, beautiful evening, lights of the city as a backdrop & fruit bats for company! WOW! (The screen lifts up for viewing the film. )
Our day was spent firstly in the Botanical Gardens, verdant lawns, mature trees of every description, exotic flower borders & wonderful views of the harbour.
It is home to a vast colony of fruit bats - grey flying foxes (22,000). They are causing so much damage to the trees that they are seeking permission to relocate them. (Rather them than me !) They are huge!
Next a short tour of The Governor's House in the grounds of the Gardens. Very interesting history of the house built on the site of the first home of Admiral Arthur Philip, the first Govenor of New South Wales, who had been sent in charge of the first convict fleet of 11 ships to colonise Sydney. He landed on 26 January 1788 with the marines and convicts at Sydney Cove, which Phillip named after Lord Sydney, England's Home Secretary at that time. It is this event that is celebrated on Australia Day & last night we saw the present Govornor of New South Wales, a highly regarded lady called Prof Marie Bashir, open the Australia Day evening entertainment.
Walking round the harbourside to the Rocks. In the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum, often frequented by visiting sailors and prostitutes. Now a trendy area of bars, shops & cafes, but some old buildings are still preserved.
 |
| CIRCULAR QUAY |
After a rather delicious cake shop visit (got to keep up the tradition), on to Harbour Bridge for a walk along its length & some stunning views.
Up to Observatory Hill to overlook the other side of the harbour, back towards Darling Harbour. Then as we headed back towards the Botanical Gardens to have our picnic tea & to watch the bats at dusk, our benefactor with the cinema tickets.......talk about being in the right place at the right time!
No comments:
Post a Comment