Sydney

doing something “cultural,” not wasting a minute, and visiting a major tourist site. 

Only 11 days into my Australian adventure and I was already on a bus on my way to Sydney.  The previous days had been packed with excursions around Melbourne, from visiting the beach and the mall, signing up for clubs on campus, exploring the city on multiple occasions including an Ice bar, sky deck, beer garden, casino, and a few other evening festivities, I was already getting a good feel for the city in which I was going to spend the next few months. Now, embarking on a 12-hour bus ride to Sydney, the second great Australian city (a rivalry exists between Melbourne and Sydney for the title of greatest and having been dubbed a "Melbournite" I have to agree with its superiority), I was thrilled to be experiencing so much in the first two weeks of my great adventure. 

My initial thrills were frozen during the overnight ride on an uncomfortable bus with the AC blasting. My first impression of Sydney was the hostel where we stayed. The welcome room was covered in colorful streamers and chalk designs, a means of distraction from the cockroach in the corner and green stagnant fish tank. We left our luggage in a crowded basement room that was covered in warning signs not to leave our valuables there. I was more concerned with the questionable red liquid dripping from a raw-meat-like substance inside a grocery bag onto the floor and surrounded by flies. The bathrooms were worse (if possible), the showers were covered in slimy water and hair, the faucets barely worked, and the sinks were stained a variety of colors. Luckily the bedroom smelled fresh, so either it had just been cleaned or they use some good Lysol spray. 

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Excitement was not reignited upon our arrival in the great Harbour City as it quite literally rained on our parade through the city tour. Because I am a simple American tourist, I forgot that it actually could be cold in Australia and neglected to bring any pants on the trip resulting in goosebumps and frozen legs for most of the adventures. Needless to say, I now understand that if rainy and 65 degrees means cold at home, it means the same thing in Australia. 

View from top of the Pylon

After a walk through the botanical gardens and an old church, we reached the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Seeing the iconic sights made me appreciate how lucky I was to be here experiencing a classic Australian moment. Climbing the pylon of the Harbour Bridge I was able to see what felt like all of Sydney even through the haze and foggy weather. I was on top of the bottom of the world, and the thrill of the journey had finally returned. 

Harbour at Night

The rest of the day was spent finding our way back to the hostel and spending the evening on a cruise around the harbour. At the end of the night being lost and trying to find our way back to the hostel did not bother me as much as it should have because I was so happy to be in this cool city and had a feeling of peace that everything would work out alright; and it did. 

Blue Mountains

The next day we took a hike through the Blue Mountains to see the Sister Rocks. Although there was more rain and mud, the sights were still amazing. It can be compared to the scale of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but with lush green forests and trees rather than dry, dead, deserts surrounding. Walking down the steep, slippery steps to touch the rock was very frightful for someone with a history of falling down, but the luck from the rock guided me back up safely. Wishing it was nicer out so we could hike farther, we were forced back to the bus for the ride back to the hostel we had come to call home. 

That night we took part in the cultural experience of Sydney's Mardi Gras. Unlike Mardi Gras in America, the event was focused on a gay parade of celebration. Watching floats go by with members of the military, police force, lifeguards, local schools and clubs, all show support for the gay community made me love how the culture in Australia is much more accepting than in America. In America, this parade would have been a fight for rights, defending differences; in Australia, it was a celebration of differences. 

Shelly Beach, Sydney

The final day of the adventure was spent on a variety of beaches, absorbing the sights of beautiful beaches and the long awaited sun rays. First seeing Manly Beach and Shelly Beach we were able to test the waters (overcoming fears of jelly fish and other sea life) and watch the surfers fight for waves. Next, we walked from Bronte to Bondi beach, and sights along the mile walk was worth the entire trip. Every shade of blue was visible from the bright tops of the waves, to the dark deeper waters, to the sky blues extending forever along the horizon. Wisps of clouds mirrored the white breaks of the waves, as sunbathers dotted the shoreline and surfers caught some waves. We walked above them all on a cliff walk, snapping pictures every few feet in an attempt to captures the feelings of awe of nature in a permanent way. 

Bondi Beach, Sydney

Heading to the bus at the end of the day a double rainbow spread across the sea posing a perfect ending to a packed weekend in Australia's second greatest city.