Sydney for the Holidays

For as long as I can remember, Australia has been the ONE place I've wanted to visit over all others.  Finally, I made it happen!  I arrived into Sydney on the 23rd of December; just in time for the holidays.  I was lucky enough to land a house sitting gig for the first few days and stay with friends after that.  Both were just a short walk from the popular Bondi Beach (side note: the lifeguards have their own TV show).  I was met by the wonderful couple, Jodie and Chris (whom I met in Honduras), and they showed me to my castle (Jodie's sister's place).  I am so grateful for all of their hospitality!  After several days of house sitting for her sister, they allowed me to crash on their couch for the remainder of my time in Sydney.  Being in a city where hostels cost over $30 a night (and much more for the holidays), it was a huge relief...it was also nice to be around friends!

My first night at the house (duplex) - I was woken up at about 6 in the morning to the sound of someone walking in the hallway.  I thought maybe Jodie had left something and was coming to get it before they headed out of town...but I had the house key, so that couldn't be it.  So I got up to check it out.  As it turns out, it was the neighbors walking through their hall...the walls are just a little thin.  

Christmas Eve was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop me from taking a stroll around Bondi.  

Christmas Day was rainy and uneventful.  I was able to do some serious TV watching...and I made a fancy Christmas dinner (spaghetti).  It was pretty much a regular day.  Except it was Christmas. 

After Christmas, I ventured into the great city of Sydney to fulfill all of my childhood travel dreams!  I started at the Royal Botanic Gardens.  The gardens were open in 1816 and occupy 30 hectares of land in the heart of the city - surrounded by buldings and the harbor.

The Government House, located within the gardens, is the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales. 

The walk along the harbor's edge, through the gardens, to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair (a point opposite the Opera House) was one of my all time favorite views.  THIS is why I travel.

The Sydney Opera House was (of course) amazingly gorgeous.

Interesting fact:  The outside appears white from a distance, but is actually chevron patterns made up of many tiles (1,056,006 to be exact) in two different colors.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (the world's largest steel arch bridge) is also a spectacular sight!  The sheer size of it is magnificent.  While you can climb the arch of the bridge for around $250, I opted for the much cheaper (free) route - the pedestrian walkway.  The bridge is a little less than a mile each way, but has stunning views every step of the way!  

I could spend days walking around this city!

Anzac War Memorial:

St. Mary's Cathedral:

The Infinite Choir...if you walk through alone, the figures light up and a solo voice sings.  If a group walks through, a full choir sounds.  Simply awesome.

Since Australia has all sorts of deadly animals, I decided to take a trip to Sydney Wildlife World.  There were several different kinds of lizzards, spiders, snakes and even a cassowary (the world's deadliest bird)...as well as these classics:

The rest of my time was spent at beaches with Chris and Jodie!  How I managed to spend a week with them without a single picture of all of us is a little baffling.  Anyways, we were able to take a day trip up to Shelly and Manly Beaches (the other side of the harbor):

Chris and I went kyaking in the harbor with some of their friends, while Jodie got stuck working. 

(not a bad view for kyaking, eh??)

And...NEW YEARS!!  I basically planned this entire trip around being in Sydney for New Years...and it did not disappoint!  I love fireworks.  They make me happy.  Fireworks over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge....absolutely amazing.  Fireworks are launched from locations all through the harbour and around the city.  Chris and Jodie have an apartment with an amazing balcony view of the harbor.  We stocked up on beer and food to barbeque, and had our own mini party with this view:

There are two sets of fireworks in Sydney - the "family" show at 9, and the official show at the New Year.  The final show was incredible - fireworks shooting all along the river, and off the bridge....I can't even begin to describe it and I don't have a steady enough hand to catch that on camera.  Youtube...use it.

My first couple of days in 2014 were spent....at the beach!  We took a lovely walk along the coast from Bondi Beach down to Clovelly Beach.  I'd say it was a little less than 5k of ocean view walkways.

There was a cemetary along the way:

I also met up with a couple I met through my uncle, Alicia and Beau, for a delicious dinner at a spectacular dock side restaurant in the city.  (I'm standing on my tip toes and Alicia is slouching for me...and I'm still that much shorter)

And so, after a week and a half of my most anticipated destination, my time in Sydney and Bondi came to an end.  

Next stop:  my new love - The Great Barrier Reef. 

New Years in Sydney, check!

~Jac