Hello, Australia!

Hello, Oz!  Friday/Saturday Feb. 18/19

We have now set foot on our sixth and last continent!  I shall now be satisfied to dream dreams, as the Bible says old men are supposed to do.  You young men will have to see all the visions now.  As we were descending for our landing, I could see the cityscape below between breaks in the clouds, but didn’t expect to recognize anything, when BAM!!  there was the Sydney Opera House from about 1,000 feet!  An omen of good things to come, I thought.

We are staying at the Park Hyatt Sydney, one of the premier Sydney hotels.  We were shown to our room, and when we opened the drapes (with the remote control!) and stepped out onto our little balcony, BAM!!  there was the Sydney Opera House all lit up just for us, across the waters of Campbell’s Cove!!  We also have a view of the cruise ship dock and several buildings in The Rocks, the original settlement of the convicts arriving in 1788.

The Sydney Opera House, viewed from our hotel room balcony!

 

In case you are wondering how we can afford such luxurious accommodations, the answer is, we can’t!  I am cashing in all the American Express points earned over 14 years of traveling for Telxon.  So for one brief moment in time, we get to see how the rich and famous live.  Then it will be back to clipping coupons for the best deals at Giant Eagle.  But I digress.

We wondered around the area that night, and were amazed that there were thousands of people out on the streets.  There were markets, street performers, cafes and pubs everywhere.  This has to be the most happenin’ city in the world.  But fatigue was setting in, so we retired to our room, closed the drapes with our remote (heh, heh) and got a good nights sleep.

Thousands of people enjoying the streets of Sydney.  This was a Friday night, but it happens every night!

 The first thing we did on Saturday, following an outrageously costly breakfast in the hotel, was head out on a Captain Cook Harbor Cruise.  The Sydney Harbor is amazing, probably the largest in the world.  We explored every bay and cove on the south as we worked our way out to the Tasman Sea, then turned back and explored the northern area until we were back to the Harbor Bridge, then back to port at the Circular Quay (pronounced “”key”).  Along the way we saw 80 million dollar homes, nude beaches (I am so sad I forgot to bring my binoculars), yachts by the thousands, and many other sights, all explained with humor and excellent history lessons by a very articulate hostess.  In the best English tradition, we were served high tea on the high seas.

On the Captain Cook Harbour Cruise, Opera House in the background.

Ditto.  I have to get in the picture once in a while.

 

The afternoon was spent mostly on a double decker bus to get an overview of this very impressive city.   

From the top deck of the bus, approaching the Harbour Bridge.

 Then it was back to the room to dress for …. the opera!  I had booked this weeks ago, because it is almost impossible to get tickets the day of performance.  So we put on our finest and arrived at the Sydney Opera House to see Bizet’s Carmen. 

Karen inside the Opera House, enjoying a pre-performance drink.  Note the Carmen program propped up on the table.

 It was a magnificent performance, made even more special for me because I had conducted the Carmen Suite No. 1 on two occasions with the TrueNorth Symphony.  From our dress circle seats, we could see the orchestra in the pit.  They were magnificent, as was the conductor, Guillaume Tourniaire.  The singers were also outstanding, especially Carmen and Michaela.  The sets were kind of minimalist, but interesting, all with a subtle golden cast.  On several occasions I remember thinking, “I am watching grand opera in the Sydney Opera House!  How much better can it get from this?”  No pictures were allowed in the theatre, of course, but did get one of a pre-concert lecture. 

A view of the Harbour Bridge from inside the Opera House.

A lecture about Carmen and Bizet, who never knew how successful his masterpiece would become.

 

Once again as we walked back to our hotel we were amazed at the thousands of people on the streets and in harbourside restaurants.  Tomorrow we climb the Bridge!