In Sydney (NSW) (Friday, 31.7.2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 21 degrees / Wind: 1 - 4 HE
Even on our last day, the sun shines from a brilliant blue sky "Sydney". So much luck with the weather as we had on our whole trip is certainly not predictable and far more than we had ever dreamed of. On our six-month trip around Australia, we had one week or less rainy weather, which is nearly four percent of the total travel time and this rain was still mostly during the night. We have the weather is not even a sacrifice made. The award with the Angels seem just yet agree ;-)
Today's sunrise is just one of hundreds that we admired during our trip, but it's the last thing we do with our "Büssli" in nature. So now let us enjoy this thoroughly :-)
The birds seem to look forward to their breakfast and are in the surrounding trees waiting in line. Anita needs to rustle just something with the plastic bag of bread and you roar approached the whole flock of birds, especially the "Rainbow Lorikeets.
Anita still shakes every goodbye, the claw and stirred said: "So long and goodbye :-)"
First, we give this morning, our "Büssli (Campervan) from the Kea depot. For this we have to drive about 28 km across, "Sydney" round. Our "TomTom" controls us in our last trip reliably through this city. When we at "Kea Campers go through the gate, we have just 21'793 more miles on the odometer than when we left six months ago. We have an average of 10.5 liters of diesel per 100 km out, a very good value for a vehicle of this weight class. This was only possible because we consistently focus is on a fuel-efficient driving style, so they are driven even to "free and Highways" rarely more than 90 mph.
After two hours we have with "Kea" remove all our clothes and do the paperwork. "Kea" generously donated us a free taxi to our hotel in the city. We are elated. This we had not expected. Around noon we move into our room at the Hotel Travelodge ". This time we live in the 15th Stick to see and go directly to the "Central Station" down.
When our favorite Italian restaurant, Trattoria Renato ", very close to our hotel, we first satisfy our hunger. The lunch menu, a pizza oven from the fire with a drink for only A $ 12.00 is very cheap, and the pizzas taste really great.
evening we walk down through the busy streets, "Sydney", between the imposing skyscrapers throughout, cozy to the Opera House.
The basin with the "Harbour Bridge" in the background is always a fascinating sight, which one can not escape.
The opera "Manon Lescaut" by Giacomo Puccini "is different statements of the loveliest and most melodious opera be. We are looking forward to the staging of the opera. The magnificent Opera House with the upstream restaurants and bars presented along the quays, as always, in discreet lighting, and makes us one of the upcoming feast for the ears.
to dine in the exclusive restaurant of the opera house with fantastic views of the skyline of Sydney, has an impressive experience for everyone.
We go directly to the lobby and hear we are interested in an introduction to the opera. Such entries are not modified for understanding the story and music of an opera is helpful because they are often sung in Italian, so here, in "Sydney". For those interested: The plot and the emergence of the opera on the Internet can be read here at " Wikipedia .
The half-hour introduction will be presented by the relatively young Assistant Director (30) of the opera in person in a humorous way. This is typical Australian, rather loosely to and fro. The audience interrupted the flow of words to ask questions openly. Even the casual clothing of the neat man differs essentially from the occurrence of such speakers in Switzerland.
Today's opera seems to be completely sold out. We can not always have one single free seat make. Performed: the production of the authentic scenery and the magnificent costumes from this period are quite to our taste and in accordance with the act which in the second half of the 18th Century plays. You can get away literally in this age, because there are no modern slip-up, as we have already experienced elsewhere. The acting and vocal performance is excellent (as it should be otherwise in such a great opera) and the audience is rewarded extensively. Applause so extensive, as in Switzerland for several blinds, one searches in vain here in Australia. Here, too, distinguishes the Australian public something of the European.
When we step outside the Opera House also presents itself to us once again the fantastic skyline at the central harbor of "Sydney". It is us stay an unforgettable memory.
The visit of the "Sydney" Opera House is a worthy cultural end of our stay in Australia.
In Sydney (NSW) (Saturday, 1.8.2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 22 degrees / Wind: 1 - 2 HE miss
morning we the alarm of the "Kookaburra", until we realize that we are indeed in the hotel are located. We need the refreshing voice of the "Laughing Hanses" Importing future home in our electronic alarm clock.
We take a first look out the window of 15 Floor. A cloudless, deep blue sky arches over "Sydney". It is once again a beautiful, bright day with mild temperatures, which can already be described as almost summer, at least for us at home.
Breakfast at the hotel convinced us six months ago, little. Why eat breakfast today in the "Delifrance" around the corner.
Unfortunately we have to wait half an hour for our food. Only after one protest, shall we get our omelettes, not just a good reference for "Delifrance". Then we update our travel diary at Global Gossip. We put on our account or about A $ 16.00 balance left over, enough for 4 hours of Internet access.
Then we walk across the busy city center to the port to the promenade and the Opera House once more to enjoy during the day in all its glory.
the many cafes along the quay with magnificent views invite you to linger.
This interesting perspective of the roof shells of know architectural masterpiece shows that there is a surface made of millions of small ceramic tiles, which are to be self-cleaning.
From the Opera House viewing platform, we shoot a few nice pictures with the fantastic views of Sydney City, "as a kind of farewell photos of this most beautiful of all cities in Australia.
some point we will visit this great city again. Finally, we have travel plans for New Zealand and the South Pacific and there is "Sydney" happens to be on the way :-)
Tonight we go further into the "Trattoria Renato". We want to decide the final evening in "Sydney" with one of the best pizzas we have eaten in Australia. But unfortunately nothing will come of it. To our great surprise, we are faced with closed doors and this on a Saturday evening. A guy from the neighboring local tells us that the Italian restaurant was closed for today, for whatever reason. We are stunned. All the furnishings of the restaurant is in any case been removed and it looks after demolition. Maybe the restaurant has gone bust. We are stunned.
short term to find an adequate replacement, is virtually impossible. We decide for the "Pizza Hut", which is only a short walk away and eat there a 8:15-Pizza. In the "Delifrance" then we comfort ourselves with a fine warm apple strudel with cappuccino :-)
a worthy replacement, this is not, however. We have our last evening in "Sydney" presented something different.
