and through the Botanical Gardens
where people were out enjoying the spring day
We spent some time in around the Opera House taking photos. It is quite as impressive as one imagined it must be and the bridge is much closer than I had thought.
When we had taken photos from every conceivable angle, we went down to the box office to see if any seats were available, quite expecting a 'you must be joking, madam'. In fact there were seats available for most productions and the helpful ticket office attendant explained that if we wanted to do a guided tour, we could have any seat for $50, even those at $280. So, we booked for Don Giovani on Thursday and took the next guided tour. We learnt all about the history and the difficulties in building the House that had been estimated to cost $7 million and take 3 years, but cost $102 million and took 16 years. We were taken around 3 of the 5 theatres, the Concert Hall, the Drama Theatre and the Opera Theatre and then outside so that we could see the structure in more detail. The tour was very well done and well worth while.
The cocktail bar outside the Opera Theatre overlooking the bridge.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
which some people choose to walk up, harnessed to a safety wire
After all the walking, we were ready for a sit down and lunch in one of the Opera House cafes.
It was then time to move on, down to the circular quays where John took great interest in this square rigged brig. Built in 1920 to a 1850 design it was of a similar size to the ship in which his Great Uncle William Taylor sailed to Brisbane in in 1888.
Above the harbour, The Rocks, is the area where the convicts and first immigrants landed.
and presumably new immigrants too
Finally we climbed up and walked to the midway point of the bridge for this photo
We then made our way back home through the Botanical Gardens, where the local large white cockatoos were feeding,
through the nearby refurbished dockyards area
before going out to Kings Cross to buy our dinner.
We then retired to the sofa with this view.
Pat and John on tour