Opera and the Harbor

Perhaps because it was the holiday season, I was missing home more than usual. Although I've wanted to go to Sydney since a couple friends of mine in college studied there, I couldn't get too excited about it. The first day in town we walked all over George Street, Circular Quay and The Rocks, went to a lovely dinner. But I couldn't get over the fact that Christmas was supposed to be cold, with snow and everyone bundled up going Christmas shopping. That was until Jack took me to the Sydney Opera House!

The Opera House is more than you can imagine. Its gorgeous. Not only is the story of its construction amazing, but the structure itself is phenomenal. I tried to take as many pictures of the curved roofs and slanted walkways as possible. [enter photos here]

Jack, knowing how much I like Christmas carols, bought us tickets to the opera house holiday show. It was fantastic and I was blown away by the acoustics. The singers and musicians don't use microphones, the sound bounces off the wood in such a way that they don't have to. However, because the sounds takes a few seconds to come back to them, they placed plastic rings above the musicians which capture 40% of the sound and directs it back to the players in real time, so that they can hear what they are playing. What an interesting idea. Plus, the music was fun and you all know how I love to sing. Even though they made jokes about the Christmas barbeques and sang a few bizarre carols, it immediately made me get more into the Christmas spirit.

After the show we ran, literally, for the harbor and our ferry to Watson's Bay where we were meeting Jack's family (Jane, his first cousin-once-removed, and her family). Watson's Bay was stunning. On the way over we got to see amazing views of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House, plus all the boats in the bay. Then once there we took a walk along the water and beach and saw a beautiful little fishing spot taken up by some Asian families which just happened to be alongside a nude beach (really Jane described it to me as a couple of older men who were always fishing naked). Strange combo, but interesting nonetheless. Then we went out to dinner with them to a pizza parlor close to Bondhi Beach. It was such a pleasure spending time with them that we readily agreed to visit again for Christmas.

Christmas Eve we left our Y Hotel (YWCA hostel) to spend a wonderful two nights in the Sheraton on the Park. We decided to celebrate with a warm, comfy bed and a huge shower! Then we went to Chinatown and the Anglican Cathedral. If you don't know, my family has a strange, but lovely, Christmas Eve tradition based on the movie "A Christmas Story" in which a family's Christmas dinner is ruined when neighbors dogs eat it. So, they all go out for an nontraditional meal where they are sung "Deck the Halls" with a fa ra ra instead of fa la la. Funny stuff. Since about 15 years ago, my family has always gone to eat Japanese food in celebration. So, because or token Japanese restaurant ended up being closed, Jack and I went to a Chinese restaurant before going to the Cathedral for service. The service was splendid, complete with a boys gospel choir. Growing up Catholic, I found the service refreshing, void of the more formal sermon and readings. Plus, something about church has always made me really happy and relaxed, the perfect way to celebrate giving and the holiday spirit, whatever your personal beliefs might be.

A few days before we had spent a rainy afternoon in Darling Harbor and gone shopping on George street for stocking stuffers, so we had ample ammo for our Christmas morning surprises. I got Jack the typical goodies: a Toblerone, some games and small toys, a kangaroo boxing pen, bursting jelly babies (starburst flavor), etc., and he got me the most important chocolate items, including mints, and a toothbrush! Without the decorated stockings we improvised with some of Jack's socks, and yes they were clean. We then opened our two gifts: mine a hat/scarf combo made of possum and cashmere; his a pair of binoculars that he wanted, before heading to our family's for Christmas.

Christmas with the Rothschild/Dickson gang was interesting. I have never eaten shrimp with their heads still on before, but I braved it all in the name of an Aussie Christmas, and boldly ate my lobster and prawns. I don't know if Jack or Jane, Nigel and Simon would agree it was that bold, but I thought so. At least they all kept major chuckles to themselves. We had a lovely day, again taking a walk and enjoying their company. Simon just got into Penn, so we hope to see more of him at the family Thanksgivings over the next four years.

Our Sydney adventure ended as Jack and I picked up our enormous camper van on Boxing Day, the 26th! We headed out to start our road trip, traveling like the locals in the summer heat.

Pictures coming!