Sydney – Mar. 11th – 15th

Aboriginal people have lived in New South Wales for 40,000 years, but the first Europeans arrived on April 19th, 1770 when Lieutenant (later Captain) Cook of the British Navy saw land from his ship the Endeavor. On January 26th, 1788, the British came back for good on the “First Fleet” which had 751 convicts and children and around 250 soldiers, officials, and their wives. January 26th is now known as Australia Day to Australians of European descent and Invasion Day to indigenous people. Today, Sydney is home to 4.5 million people as well as three of Australia’s major icons (Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi Beach).

Sydney from Darling Harbor

Sydney City Center

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Perfect timing! Mike, who was on my Antarctic cruise back in December, happened to be in Sydney the same time I was.

Sydney before the Harbor Bridge

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Opera House as seen from the Sydney Harbor Bridge

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach Skate Park-Respect. She was so cute and she had a Hello Kitty skateboard.

Barracks Museum. Former home of the original convicts in Australia.

The Blue Mountains get their name from the slate-colored haze. This is actually a fine mist of oil from the eucalyptus trees.

Wentworth Falls

The Three Sisters

More views of the Blue Mountains

Jody and I at the Three Sisters

We went to a traditional Aboriginal culture show.

We learned the history of the didgeridoo. A man was walking in the woods when he heard the wind going through a hollow log and he decided to try to replicate this sound.

Photo with the cultural show cast. Somehow I didn’t get the memo about the showing of the hands. It’s supposed to show your inner spirit

A replica of the Endeavor, Captain Cooks ship. Unfortunately, it was damaged while coming back from Tasmania for the large ships festival so we couldn’t get on it.