Sydney 2015 (Part Two)

On Saturday (January 3), we set off from Circular Quay on a ferry to Watson's Bay. Just riding through Sydney Harbour was a treat.

Watson's Bay is east of downtown (you can see the downtown skyline in the distance below), and was our effort to spend "a day in the life" of a Sydneysider. It being Saturday, folks were at the beach. Though this area was less crowded than Bondi.

We walked the South Head Heritage Trail, a short jaunt past the Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keeper's Cottages from 1848. After lunch at the Watson's Bay Hotel, we returned by ferry to downtown Sydney.

We spent some time at The Rocks Discovery Museum, learning some of the history of Sydney, then walked across the Harbour Bridge. It is certainly not the longest bridge in the world, but Lonely Planet tells me that it is the heaviest.

We wandered around Observatory Hill before landing at the Lord Nelson Brewery to try their beers. This place claims to be the oldest pub in Australia, though a few other spots were also claiming that honor.

On Sunday, we went to a worship service at Paddington Uniting Church. This service focused on opening fellowship time before a short liturgy and message. We enjoyed the open atmosphere of the group and we would definitely like to be a part of a group like that in future. We were lucky enough to hang out with Marguerite, Barbara, Marjan, and James at the Max Brenner Cafe after service, getting to know them a little bit better.

Monday morning we ventured to Taronga Zoo, again traveling by ferry, this time to the north shore of Sydney. Alan saw some of his favorites, gibbons, and Gracyn might have started crying when the otters were "temporarily not at the zoo." All pouting aside, these young elephants were having a great time playing together.

Giraffes, koalas and kangaroos, oh my.

In the afternoon we visited the Museum at the Barracks, learning about the convict history of Sydney's development. The area seems to have been shaped by the different governors whose beliefs about "rehabilitation", and how integral the convicts would be to society.

Finally we peeked inside the Queen Victoria Building, which is now a shopping mall with at least 4 floors. I particularly enjoyed this clock, which, if you look closely, does the month and day of the week as well as the time.

Well, that was it for Sydney! Not enough time, but we are off to Manila in the Philippines.