We both enjoyed a good night’s sleep, other than waking up at 4 AM. One more day and we’ll have adjusted and be back to normal. Great breakfast in the apartment, then off to catch the ferry.
First stop is the iconic Sydney Opera House for a guided tour. The House is a beautiful structure with an incredible tale of construction, would come here again for sure. A walk around the quay, and we are already getting a little ‘pink’ from the sun. Quick stop for some sun screen, then over to the Opera Bar for a snack and libation. Best calamari I have ever eaten (sorry forgot to get the photo op).
On the way over to the Rocks Market, we heard a talented street performer on the Quay and stopped to listen for a while. Had some incredible oysters at the Oyster bar, then a nice walk through the Royal Botanical Garden. Late afternoon we head back to the ferry, our little neighborhood, and a great Thai restaurant nearby for dinner. A busy, but relaxing day.
Mary
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Balmain is a pretty convenient place to stay when in Sydney as it’s a quick, easy ferry ride to most of the attractions. The main drag is Darling Street with literally probably close to a hundred, mostly small, open air eateries. Our flat is a short walk through Gladstone Park. Gladstone is the home of the very popular Balmain Bowling Club, a community social society that features an outdoor pub, food, & lawn bowling. A nice community asset!
Saturdays feature a nice market in ‘the Rocks’, the oldest part of Sydney. Interesting vendors, cool crafts, and food offerings. I had my first taste of ‘roo’ (on a spit). Not bad! We stumbled upon the ‘Gannon House Gallery’ which has a really nice collection of indigenous arts – the place felt like a museum. Along Circular Quay are a number of outdoor dining options. We’ve had our eye on one (the Sydney Bay Oyster Bar) since we began planning for our trip and were not disappointed. Seafood, seafood, seafood.
Not far from the Quay is the Royal Botanical Garden. Huge – over 74 acres. The Garden is one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world and sits overlooking Sydney Harbor. Lots of interesting local flora & birds (Australian white ibis, Rainbow Lorikeets!).
We returned to Balmain in the early evening still a little jet-lagged but things are getting better. After a short walk up Darling Street we dined al fresco at a really great Thai restaurant Mary found. Another nice day.
Dick
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Ah. Great memories of wondering through Sydney.