Friday October 6

If the Sydney Opera House is the most iconic symbol of Sydney, then the Sydney Harbor Bridge (affectionally called The Coat Hanger by the locals) is a close runner-up. Bridges fascinate people all over the world, regardless of size and span. In New York, the Brooklyn Bridge leads the way.  In San Francisco it’s the Golden Gate Bridge. In London, it’s the Tower Bridge. In Paris, it’s the Pont Neuf.

What all these bridges have in common is that they allow for pedestrian traffic.  Today, Gerri and I got to cross the ‘Coat Hanger’.  As with any bridge, part of the planning is deciding which direction to cross. We chose the entrance on the north side of the harbor at Milson’s Point, getting there by a twenty-minute ferry ride from one of the many wharves that the ferries service. (I might point out here that the ferries are part of the mass transit system, and you pay for them as you would for trains and buses. You tap on and off with your phone or a dedicated card.)

On the ferry you get wonderful views of the harbor while moving surprisingly fast. 

The small amusement park named “Luna Park” pays homage to the Coney Island of yore. 

We debarked, climbed up the hill from the wharf, and commenced to walk southward towards Sydney itself. It’s hard to get great photos because of the grating and the height of the protective barriers, but the view is magnificent. 

We exited the bridge here into an area called ‘The Rocks’, which is the oldest part of Sydney and got its name from the rocks that originally jutted out of the harbor. The Rocks is now an entertainment district interspersed with preserved historical buildings. 

Opera House from the Syney Harbor Bridge

The Rocks with the ‘Coat hanger’ above

Dinner tonight was in the Haymarket/Chinatown area, which houses more than just Chinese restaurants.  Within its environs there are restaurants reflecting many past ethnic concentrations in Australia. In our case, we chose a Spanish restaurant and were treated to a wonderful paella.

Tomorrow we soar up high and then off to dialysis I go.