Sydney discovery

I arrive in Sydney on Saturday June 2nd, but really start to discover and enjoy it from Sunday night… I had a kind of 24h « downtime », probably a mix of long-term travel, exhaustion from meeting new people every day & week, and a bit of home sickness… yes my friends & family, I do miss you ;-)

Anyhow, I have a small week here so wasting Sunday wasn’t so dramatic, and on top it was pouring down that day, literally raining cats & dogs! In addition, I need few days to accommodate the weather, as with 15-20°C temperature, it is quite a difference vs. the last 2 months!

I spend the week-end at the Wake-Up hostel, supposed to be trendy, but change to Big Hostel from Monday, as finally it wasn’t so great and too expensive. I still manage to sleep 4 nights in the same bed, this is so goooood.

Sunday evening, my energy level is back again, and by 11pm I move out to at least check the waterfront and the famous Opera…. Arriving at the end of a party, I meet some guys who invite me to an after-party in an alternative club (Art factory), which is quite fun at the end. Very gay, but this was a good 1st Sydney-by-night time!

Darling Harbour

Waterfront & city visit
Monday morning, I am blessed: the sun is up and the sky blue! ☺ This promises a great walk around the city! Starting with Darling Harbour, the city proves to be pretty as expected, and the restaurant, bars and boats along the quay, with downtown in the background is great scenery to walk by.

Darling Harbour

Downtown view with the Sydney Eye

Darling Harbour

Crossing downtown, I am surprised to see some Victorian style buildings (but of course, the Bristish… ;-), which contrast well with the modern buildings around. The main shopping street has cool atmosphere, it just feels right to be here.

Main shopping street

After this, direction Circular Quay… where the 1st views of the Opera House by day are of course impressive, though it is smaller than I thought! The shape and white roof is perfect for pictures ☺
The other Sydney symbol, the Harbour Bridge, adds some nice scenery element once on the other side of the quay.

1st Opera House view :)

Circular Quay waterfront

Well, that is Sydney Opera House

Same than before with me ;)

Harbour Bridge

View from Circular Quay

Circular quay 

Opera House roof

View from the bar :)

In the evening, I keep enjoying the Circular Quay scenery by night having drinks with 2 friends’ friends, Sarah & Margot. Great views and discussions with Frenchies who are now living on this other side of the world.

Opera Bar

Circular quay view at night

Harbour bridge at night

The Opera House with Vivid light on

After this, I join Yahaira, a Peruvian girl met via Couchsurfing, into a trendy & alternative pizzeria, where a local band is covering good rock songs. Very busy for a Monday night! Later, we move to the O-Bar on the 47th floor of a tower, and can appreciate great views of the city, nice.

Frankies pizza house band

Sydney view by night

Contemporary art museum
Later in the week, I go visit this well located museum, on circular quay, quite a nice even though the size and quality to see still disappoint me vs. Europe, but that is something I got used to. Few good things to see, with some Aboriginals art adding a local touch to the visit.

A pic trial ;)

Polynesian art

Aboriginal art

Taranga zoo
So I had been told the zoo was amazing… and a good way to see Koalas & Kangaroos, which I wanted being in Australia. However, I knew that after having seen wild animals in African Natural Parks, seeing them in a limited space would be tough… and I was right. Except the good views on the city while taking the boat to go there and from the zoo hill, I did not really like the visit. The zoo itself is not that big, the few kangaroos and koalas to see are in a too constrained space from my point of view, and for sure it’s even worst for the African animals. Well, at least I would have tried!

Red tree kangaroo

Koala

Kangaroos hopping

Unknown bird ;)

Overall, I have only been doing a little bit of the city… but can clearly see, and feel, that I would love living here… if it was not for the distance to family and friends. Clearly, the life here would be sweet and fun, but long-term cannot be possible to sustain those precious relationships I have! In another life as some would say ;-)