Sydney Again

Back to Sydney, but what a difference!  We were here in 2003 and a few things have changed.    Our ship was docked at a secondary docking area, White Bay, because the best dock was being used by one of the giant ships.  We fit under the Sydney Harbor bridge, and they did not.  However, when they left, the Viking Sun moved to the dock at Circular Quay (pronounced key)

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Opera House and Harbor Ferries

between the Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and The Rock, the oldest part of the city.  That night a lot of people went out on the town since they could easily walk to the ship, no matter what time of the night they came in. About 3AM the ship was repositioned back to the original White Bay mooring for our second full day in Sydney.








The cute little ferries still scoot around the harbor.  The schedule is posted, and you had not be a minute late, because the ferries operate on a very strict schedule.  It reminds me of little water bugs zipping across the top of the water.






Our first day was spent on Cockatoo Island, a former convict housing area later turned into a shipyard.  The old buildings are still there, but only as shells.  No interiors have been restored.  During World War II, this was the repair station for the Pacific Fleet after Singapore fell to the Japanese.  Again, the shells of the buildings are all that remains.





 However, the island now serves two purposes.  It is a reminder of things past and a vacation destination.  The houses of the commandant and a few other houses of higher staff members high on the island have been refurbished as vacation rentals with a fine view of the bay and beautiful landscaping.   The lower level where the convicts first arrived and started cutting away the sandstone to make their barracks now boasts over 100 tents for tourist and school groups.

Tents for Rent

Our second day was an included bus tour of the town and a walking tour of The Rocks.  Many of the old buildings are surrounded by tall modern looking office buildings.  The Rocks is undergoing restoration, so the lowest level is enclosed by fences and scaffolding.  Our guide gave us an extensive history of the area and we hiked up and down the narrow streets.  It was another hot, sunny day, but she gave us a lot of breaks so she could add interesting bits of history.  When rats brought the plague to the city, The Rocks were shut off from the rest of the city until  the rats were eliminated and the conditions were improved.  Darrell was having trouble with the focus on his camera, so he missed the long hot hike on The Rocks and took his own long hot hike in search of a camera store open on Sunday.  Fortunately he was successful.

This ibis wandered among the crowds.

A nice refreshing cappuccino

 

What The Rocks will look like after restoration

When we finally left Sydney for Brisbane, our ship went under the Bridge slowly, then by the Opera House, slowly, as a photo helicopter was trolling through the air above us recording everything from every conceivable angle. Viking was spending mega-bucks for publicity and future promotion of Viking in Australia.  They have been doing this sort of thing with most ports we have been in and also using drones for photography of all sorts and kinds.  Then after a few hundred yards, the Viking Sun turned around and took us back to the Opera House and did a wheely turn right in front of the Opera House before heading out of the harbor and up toward Brisbane north of Sydney. (DZ)