Two Days in Sydney, Australia

There’s an Italian saying that goes:  “Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino,” or, “A good day is seen from the morning.”  This sunrise as we approached Sydney Harbor was a clear indicator of the wonderful days that lay ahead.

Our cabin on the port side of the ship proved to be the ideal place to watch Sydney unfold before us.

Once docked, we had two full days to explore glorious Sydney under sunny skies.  First off was a 2.5-hour narrated cruise around the harbor, where we were wowed by the sleek and ultra-modern architecture of the high-rises that dominate the landscape.  We also noticed the miles of sidewalks that have been constructed at water’s edge…well-used by walkers, runners, and cyclists.

That afternoon, I went for retail therapy at the shop where Dwight and I had bought my opal pendant eleven years earlier.  The representative recognized the piece right away and was the same woman who had sold it to us in 2014.  I came away with a pair of stones that I’ll have made into earrings once I’m home.  

In the evening, we attended concert that Viking had arranged, baroque music by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, played on vintage instruments by gifted and most energetic musicians.  (https://brandenburg.com.au/our-story/meet-the-orchestra/)

The following morning, we were on the 8:00 shuttle and headed for an hour long tour of the Sydney Opera House.  The million-plus tiles that cover its shells sparkled in the morning’s abundant sunshine.  Our guide said, “The sun never knew how beautiful its light was until it saw its reflection in those tiles!”

This photo is of the largest indoor venue, the Concert Hall, which seats 2,664.  I’d love to be in the audience one day!

Vann took this photo showing that the opera house’s interior is as dramatic as its shells.

That afternoon, we went on a culinary tour that took us to the suburb of Marrickville, a culturally diverse neighborhood with a wide range of eateries.  Our first stop was for a Vietnamese sandwich from a shop that typically has a line of customers spilling out onto the sidewalk.  Next up was what looked like a simple Italian coffee bar, but upstairs there was a complete Italian grocery store.  Started in 1956 by a young Neapolitan immigrant who arrived with little more than a 90-liter copper pan and a dream, Umberto Somma’s Paesanella is famous for its traditional cheeses, with hot ricotta as its specialty.  Clair was generous with samples.

Lamingtons are a traditional Australian sweet made of  cake coated with chocolate and rolled in coconut.  Sometimes there is a layer of cream or jam in the middle.  The tour took us to a bakery that has elevated the simple Lamington to a higher level with names like Fairy Bread, Yuzu Meringue, Halo Halo, and Wasabi.

Our final stops were at a micro-brewery followed by an ice cream shop.  By the end of the tour, we had spent four hours sampling the best and most authentic offerings of this up-and-coming little corner of Sydney.  (And we got back to the ship just in time for dinner!)