Here's an early morning look out our 21st floor window. We are right downtown near restaurants, museums, parks, churches and the bay. It's a nice day - some wind but not cold.
We left right after breakfast on a coach for a four hour city tour with Brad narrating. We fun to see and get the lay of the land. Just wish we had one more day to explore. (We go to the Blue Mountains and an animal sanctuary tomorrow.)
We went to several very good overlooks and were able to get a ton on good pics with the sun and blue skies completing the look!
Most of you will recognize the Opera House and the bridge!
The Naval Yard is pretty much right downtown. There were 7 large vessels lined up along the dock.
There are many here who have lost hope and find themselves suicidal.... Even among the young people who grew up in well to do homes and attended private schools in the wealthy Rose Bay area where the police department uses Porsches as squad cars! On the other end of the spectrum, housing is terrible expensive whether you rent or buy. It's discouraging to young people.
These are two expensive ($30,000+ a year) girls schools up on the hill overlooking the city. Sure LOOKS like the good life....
Not far away is a very pretty overlook where many have jumped off the cliff - thus the need for the not for profit Lifeline advertised in the picture above.
Beautiful views in every direction!
Over looking the South Pacific Ocean...
Need to find out what tree this is. Any ideas? It is different and catches your eye when you go by.
Across the bay....and just down the path.
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The next stop....one of the 1200 beaches along the east coast alone...
A pretty old lighthouse on the hill overlooking the city.
The large and busy in the summer Bondi Beach. The waves were really rolling in. I was sort of surprised there were no surfers. We were told the current and under toe is very strong at Bondi Beach.
They have a huge pool of volunteers who are members of this club and help with thousands and thousands of rescues each year. People who don't know how to swim come from all over the world and think they can just walk out into the water and be okay.
We drove by this Cricket Club - very popular here.
And here's a lawn bowling club - also very popular right now.
Now this picture takes us back to the beach where I offered to take a picture of a young Chinese couple. After I took their picture, she wanted a picture of us togethet. Brought me back to our time in China where many Chinese women wanted to touch my hair and take a picture ...
Our tour director took us to an opal sales room he really likes. They showed us a video of how opal develop.....tracing it back to old dinosaur bones. They have some very lovely pieces at some very high prices.
We had some lunch at a very nice food court with a huge variety of choices. Unfortunately it did not include a slice of 🍕. Not any to be found. Ended up with a single serving quiche...
Then we were off for a city bay boat tour. The driver was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of history with us as he drove us around the bay and up the river in his MAXI Taxi.
The Opera House is stunning at any angle...
This is the governor general's home right across from the Opera House.
When the boat tour was finished we walked back to the hotel. A few of us stopped by to see the Cathedral. It wasn't far from the hotel.
Dinner Cruise tonight was a gift from Go Ahead Tours - because they had to make a couple of changes in our itinerary.
Views were stunning!
I need to get to bed...no more details tonight!!!
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