A couple of great days here in Sydney. Monday we met up with Anna again, walked over the bridge and went to the Flying Bear cafe as recommended. It was good to see a different perspective on the main quayside. Also awe inspiring to see the bridge up close and to think about how it was constructed, who by. Sue and John were climbing the bridge this morning- brave souls. They found it easy and very safe but I still don’t think it’s for me. After saying a sad goodbye to Anna we then walked round the Contemporary Art gallery and on the the Rocks Discovery Museum. That was really interesting and tells stories about colonisation and history. I just can’t get my head around the idea that you land somewhere, you round up all the indigenous people and call the land your own. There’s an interactive map there of who colonised where, when around the world- how can you trade nations? And of course decimate whole cultures in the process?
After that, we had a quick walk round another, commercial gallery and wondered back. Evening meal was in The Malaya- fab, quite posh, amazing view of Darling Harbour and delicious food.
Yesterday (Tuesday) we caught the slow ferry to Manly beach, to get a perspective on the wider Sydney harbour. Fab beach. Then a walk on ‘the prom’ to Shelly beach and a quick dip in a clear blue sea. After brunch we walked up to North Head, part of a national park, to see views and whales. We were lucky enough to see, from a great distance mind you, spouting and swimming, though to be fair, it was hard to be sure what was whale and what was swell. But I just love seeing them in the sea, even at that distance I am entranced. And humbled. We walked along a clear path, but all the time I was conscious of looking out for snakes