Sydney

After another nice sea day we awoke to this view from our balcony!!  A beautiful day in Sydney and after breakfast three of us set out to see the sights, leaving G with the icks.  Decided to take the Hop on Hop off Tour bus around the city to see it all.  Right outside the terminal we spoke with a information guide and then were interviewed and photographed for a brochure on Sydney..we will all be stars I am sure!!  The double decker bus turned out to be a great way to see everything and get our bearings for the day.  Dennis and I spent most of the tour on top deck, cold, windy but great views if you watched out for the tree branches!!

 

Coming around to Darling Harbor we saw the Chinese Garden and Hard Rock Café so decided to get off.  After a quick pit stop at Star Bucks..of course!! ..we walked to Hard Rock Café to buy pins. Walking thru the promenade, we took many photos of the Chinese gardens, a gift to Australia from the Chinese people. It was an oasis of serenity in the middle of a big city.

 

We picked up the bus again and rode to The Rocks. We enjoyed the shops housed in the old buildings of Sydney, as well as the view of the harbor and bridge. After a power snack, we climbed up and walked half way across the bridge. Back at ground level once again, we enjoyed a draught at a pub.  I boarded the ship for cocktails and watched the lights come on in the city, as nighttime fell.

 

As the ship prepared to set sail, fireworks exploded over the opera theater.