So I started Friday morning (Thursday for you all back home) with my Cora update from my sister. Cora was stable all night and has shown further baby step improvements (we will take that as a win … we know this is not going to be a sprint). The doctors have decided to reduce the blood thinners and insert a tube in her chest (this was done successfully today) to help remove the fluid buildup on her right lung caused by the pneumonia and will run tests on the fluid to obtain information for treatment. Cora remains sedated and on paralytics so she has no movement to keep her calm, pain free and allow her body to heal.
And buoyed by this update, I headed off to Circular Quay for my one hour tour of the Sydney Opera House. Zoe, our guide, gave us headphones and began the tour with a brief video history of the Opera House. The buildings (there are three) were designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon. The construction at Bennelong Point began in 1959, took 16 years to complete (including pre-construction work), is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is covered in 1,000,000 Swedish white and tan tiles (97% of which are still the original tiles) and opened its doors in 1973. Sadly, Mr. Utzon never saw his masterpiece complete as he left the construction site in 1966 after a falling out with the Australian government so three Australian architects had to complete the project. Mr. Utzon never returned to Australia despite numerous invitations and never saw the finished construction.
The three buildings that make up the Opera House contain the Concert Hall (used exclusively by the Symphony), the Joan Sutherland Theater (used exclusively by the Ballet and Opera), the Drama Theater, the Playhouse, the Utzon Room (used for parties) and the Yallumundi Rooms (used for weddings and conferences). There is also an outdoor space that can be used as well as a recording studio, retail shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
So after the overview, we were given a tour of a small portion of the inside of the Opera House. First up was the theater, which has also been used as a recording studio. The venue was small, seating under 450 people giving it an intimate setting.
Next was a climb up multiple stairs to the Joan Sutherland Theater. Now sadly, they do not permit pictures while Opera or Ballet sets are on stage so I have no pictures. However, the first thing I noticed when we entered was how small the stage actually was. In fact the stage was downright tiny and the seating capacity was only 1,500.
Now one interesting factoid we learned is that the stage set is removed after every performance and lowered beneath the stage. This occurs for Opera because the 2 ½ month opera season consists of 2 operas, which rotate each day. However, for the ballet, this occurs because the ballerinas wish to practice on stage each day without the set.
Anyway, we sadly did not get to see inside the Concert Hall, which quite frankly was what I really came to see. Apparently, the only way to see it is to buy a ticket. So after seeing two of the venues, we went outside and were told about the roof structure, the 1,000,000 tiles and the fact that because the tiles were baked and glazed twice the tiles are self cleaning. In other words, there is no need to wash the roof of dirt as the rain washes the dirt away (which by the way was sparking today in the bright sun.)
And once we learned about the roof, the quick one hour tour concluded. I ended up wandering around outside for a bit as some clouds rolled in, took some pictures, stopped for an ice cream so I could sit for a bit and then pulled up a bench and watched people go by until it was time to head over to the Harbour Master Steps, where I was meeting my boat for a four hour trip around the Sydney Harbour with Sydney Harbour Boat Tours.
So just before 12:20, Zane drove up in the Spectre 20, docked the boat and welcomed 9 of us aboard. First up was a discussion of … Circular Quay and the Opera House. Fortunately, this was a quick discussion as Zane put the boat in neutral to take pictures of everyone in front of the spectacular Harbour background. However, one point Zane mentioned during the discussion that I did not know is that the Harbour Master Steps at Circular Quay, which is where we left from, was the site of the landing of the first boat from England. (And this certainly made sense given that The Rocks was a stones throw from the dock.
Anyway, with pictures out the way, we motored by the Botanical Gardens and Mrs. Macquaries Point and Zane began to tell us about the Sydney Harbour and the more than 90 bays that make up the harbour. Now first up was Wooloomooloo Bay, which I had been by on Tuesday during my private tour of Sydney, but this view from the water allowed me a totally different perspective. We passed by what is believed to the longest wooden wharf in the world, originally built in the 1800s and now refurbished into apartments and private homes. And on top of this, Zane pointed out Russell Crowe’s boat, the “Oscar” docked nearby.
From here, we made our way into nearby Elizabeth Bay and passed a gorgeous home that was used in scenes for Mission Impossible 2. In fact, Zane told us that there have been numerous films that have used homes and backdrops around the Sydney Harbour area, including, most recently The Fall Guy.
So after Elizabeth Bay, we motored into Rushcutter’s Bay, home to the very private Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (“CYCA”) where we would be stopping for lunch. (And also home to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race that takes place every Boxing Day – December 26 if you are not from a Commonwealth Country).
As we pulled into the yacht club, we passed by dozens of massive sailboats, including one that had apparently finished second in the most recent Sydney-Hobart race.
Once docked, we got out of the boat, went to the checkin area where each of us had to register, before walking into the dining area. After we ordered lunch and drinks, we enjoyed the views, watched a recent video of the Sydney to Hobart race and then ate lunch. (Now this may have been a fancy private club, but let me tell you that the service was horrible. I ordered the Caesar salad with prawns and my order came out last after almost everyone had finished eating. Gesh.)
Anyway, once lunch was done, we were given a tour of the upstairs club area, including the trophy room and the private bar area where only members are permitted. The coolest part about the upstairs area, in my opinion, was the wall showing the shape of the hull for each boat that had won the Sydney to Hobart race dating to 1945.
So after the stop at the CYCA, we got back on the boat to continue our tour of the harbour. Next up we made a quick pass by Darling Point, home to one of the oldest homes in the area (church converted to a house) and hten through Double Bay before heading past Point Piper, home to the most expensive suburb in Sydney. Now these homes were absolutely mammoth with killer views looking straight towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. (I tried to find the $100,000,000 house with the view garage I had seen a few days before with Daniel, but had no luck.)
We then took a quick tour around Rose Bay, the largest bay in Sydney, and also the landing zone for seaplanes used for trips and tours in the area. In fact, as we approached Rose Bay, we saw a seaplane just touching down.
At this point, Zane asked us if anyone gets seasick as he was thinking of taking the boat out past the Gap where the relative calm of the harbour can give way to rougher water of the Tasman Sea. We were all game, and as it turned out, there was no need to worry as the day had turned back to bright and sunny with very little wind. As a result, we headed towards the Gap, first passing Shark Island with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background and sailing boats nearby and then passing Lady Bay Beach (a nude beach and no I did not take pictures).
Once we reached the Gap, we passed by the Hornby Lighthouse on one side of us and then motored towards North Head and its massive 85m cliffs. There were people walking above on the footpath and I can imagine what a gorgeous site it was from above on a beautiful day like today.
From here, we moved around the North Head and headed towards Manly first passing Quarantine Station. The station opened in 1832 and was used until 1984, to quarantine passengers on boats suspected or or susceptible to disease. People were required to stay at Quarantine Station for 40 days. Yikes!
And just around the corner from Quarantine Station was the beautiful Store Beach – home to a small colony of ferry penguins. However, the penguins are only on shore in the evening so it is very difficult to see them, in part, because there is no public access to Store Beach without a boat.
Nevertheless, you can kayak from nearby Manly and there were a few intrepid folks who had made their way to Store Beach, not for the penguins, but because the beach was so beautiful with few people around. The beach is actually considered one of the most beautiful in Sydney.
We then continued on into Manly Harbour where I had been the day before. The boys were still jumping into the water from the pylons, and it looked like Felons Restaurant and Bar was doing a roaring business in the beautiful weather.
Zane slowly moved our boat along the waterfront, passing the Manly Wharf Beach with the shark net (which apparently attracts seahorses, which I would have loved to see, but you need to get in the water for that), and then by the old Manly Pavilion, which is now a restaurant, bar and venue for special events. (I had wondered what the building was when I saw it yesterday.)
We then motored out of the bay and once out of the bay, Zane put the boat in full gear. About half way back to Sydney Harbour, we made a brief stop at Chowder Bay, which was at one time home to an old whaling station, but is now a marine research center.
After slowing to take a look at the research center, Zane put the boat in full gear again and we were zipping towards the harbour front. We slowed one more time to take a look at the little island that is Fort Dennison (where convicts were sent for disciplinary reasons) before motoring past the Opera House and Bridge and finally reaching the Harbour Master Steps at about 4:45. All in all, it had been a fabulous tour on a lovely (very hot) day.
Tomorrow, I am off on a tour of the Blue Mountains, a region a couple hours west of Sydney. The views are supposed to be stunning so I am really looking forward to this tour.
