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Trip Start Dec 04, 2006 Previous
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  Sydney, Australia
Saturday, January 20, 2007

Jeannie here.  Sydney surprised us by being a very accessible and pleasant big city.  We find ourselves enjoying walking between destinations as we appreciate the harbor views or take the long way through a park or garden. 
We visited the Sidneysiders' version of central park yesterday - The Royal Botanical Gardens.  Sean loved the fact that they have bats ("flying foxes") here that are unusually active during the daylight hours and roost in trees.  I of course find them very creepy and would prefer to avoid looking at them.  This led to a series of "look at that, wow!" blurtings by Sean, followed by a series of "I really don't want to, Sean" responses.
We visited the New South Whales Art Gallery, where there were a few familiar masters and some derivative paintings.  We liked the paintings of aboriginal and outback life, but for the most part we felt that we have been utterly spoiled by other museums

Australian Open

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The Opera House was of course a big attraction.  While Sean was questioning the information desk workers about why  Prince Phillip is a prince and not a king, I was taking in the incredible wind whipping around the building, wondering why the opera house always looks so white in pictures when it is kind of tan up close, and catching a bit of the Australian Open on a big screen at the foot of the Opera steps with the rest of the crowd.
Today we ventured over to Darling Harbour for the Fish Market (Sean loves his local markets) where one of us was transfixed by giant mud crabs and baby octopi.  Then we went over to The Rocks - the oldest area of Sydney that was largely built by the convicts the English shipped here to start the colony.  Now, because of its stunning location and stone buildings, it has become the choicest spot for wedding photography in Sydney.  We got to see five different brides being whipped around by the strong wind and their respective bridesmaids doing the requisite manic hair repairs and veil control moves.
Tonight we're hoping to see the McNaught Comet from either the harbor bridge or the opera house.  It has been on the news and it looks just stunning.  Since this is our last night in the southern hemisphere, it's now or never.  Sean also hopes to see the bats flying in droves out to the suburbs at dusk.

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