Monday, December 27, 2010

14. Opera House and Botanic Gardens

The sun was shining early as we started our day, but it soon turned cloudy and cool. Not so bad, but we'll have to get warmer clothes before the harbor cruise this afternoon!


We took an insider tour of the Sydney Opera House this morning. It goes without saying that this in an architectural wonder. We learned on the tour that the design was chosen even though they weren't sure how they would actually build it! But after all that trouble, cost, political drama, and the firing of the original architect, it is truly amazing. Up close, and inside, it is much grander and stunning that from the postcard pictures. We were allowed to snap a few photos, but it's hard to capture the details of the concrete, steel, native wood, and tiles. It's something you just have to see for yourself. It would be really something to attend a performance here.










At the end of the tour, we were allowed to enter the gallery dedicated to the architect, who was eventually honored for his vision and design... and rehired to help support the evolution of the building over time. His son is also working full-time on the structure. The gallery includes a stunning tapestry designed by the architect.





Since it was a late night and an early morning, we grabbed a cafe latte before we went for a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens. It's a huge place, so we decided to spend our time mostly in the herb gardens. Everything is really beautiful. It was nice to just walk along and enjoy the lush green gardens and interesting plants.







Now Lindsay is napping and we're soon off to lunch and our harbor cruise. It's our last day in Sydney! We are sad to leave but can't wait to see our friends in Melbourne! Tomorrow is mostly travel, with our flight arriving approximately 4 pm. We'll spend a little time this evening trying to get the luggage under control, then have a nice dinner and a last walk along the Circular Quay!





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