Tuesday morning I did the tour of Sydney Opera House, which was well worth it. It truly is an iconic building both inside and out. I won't bore you with all the details as you can always go on Wikipedia for that but I will say it very nearly didn't happen. Firstly, the design by Jon Utzon didn't originally make it through the first round of the competition and was picked out later by the new chief judge as he insisted on looking at the reject pile. Secondly, building commenced before engineers had even worked out how the structure could be built. It took 14 years to build, Utzon resigned before completion and the project went a squillion dollars over budget, now some photos.
The stage door, many famous names and faces will have passed through here.
The Joan Sutherland Theatre, there was a rehearsal going on for South Pacific so photographs were forbidden, whoops...
Views of the bridge.
These structures are called the rib cage.
Original drawings by Utzon, all very sketchy.
The gap between the two halls, called 'the cleavage.'
Pavarotti hated the purple carpet and said it was bad luck, superstitious nobend lol.
We were really lucky to be able to photograph the concert hall as it was empty. Look at how grand it is!
More of the rib cage.
The Opera House was 40 years young on Sunday, happy birthday to you;)
In the afternoon I climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge and paid 30 bucks for the photographic evidence; bloody licence to print money which I am leaching here in Oz :(
The experience was exhilarating without being scary and the views of the bridge and the harbour were stunning. I got some freebies on my CD so let's pretend I took them although it was grey and drizzly when I did my climb.
Early evening shot I took of the Sydney skyline.
View I took on the ascent.
Out of body shot I took of me and my group descending at sunset; I am omnipresent after all;)
Beautiful, I am a photographic genious...
Yesterday I headed to Manly Sea Life Centre to go diving with sharks, I must be bloody bonkers! In the harbour was this colossal floating skyscraper, I've never seen a cruise ship close up before.
The shark dive was pretty amazing. I was up close and personal with grey nurse sharks, which are 3 metres long, stingrays as big as queen sized beds and giant turtles the size of a family dining room table. No pictures peeps as I couldn't complete the dive! When we went deeper into the tank my ears wouldn't regulate no matter how much I swallowed or blew down my nose. They became really painful and so the instructor wouldn't let me continue in case I perforated my ear drum. Pesky little lugs, apparently it is common with small ears; they are still a bit sore now. Still, at least I got to do it and have a certificate to prove it.
Who is Adrienne Segdwick??? I paid a visit to the baby penguins before I left to spend the afternoon on the beach.
I took the sunset ferry back from Manly so you will have to sit through all my arty shots. The harbour was awash with myriads of yahts, their billowing sails gleaming in the setting sun.
A tall ship.
When we arrived back to the quay the colossal cruiser was just leaving and so we had to pass under the bridge and wait whilst it heaved its heavy bows out to sea.
This is my favourite shot of the evening, I like the seagulls.
And some arty shots of Luna Park.
Today I am heading into town with my map to have a wander, I may take in a gallery or two if they are free:) it is my last full day in Sydney before I pack up the snail house and hit the road to nowhere, next Adilady imposition is with Kirstypop's friend Maureen. Ella has offered to cook a farewell meal but is currently in bed with food poisoning poor thing, so we will have to see. Bloggingtons may become more sporadic from now on, I forsee a lot of bush bashing and beach lolling ahead. Lots of love as always, I am still in a heavenly happy place:D I have even been looking at beamed cottages for one on Rightmove, I return in 4 months and I am officially half way through trippingtons. I can't wait to see y'all in February, who is responsible for my belated birthday, home coming party? lol xxxx
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