The Big Smoke…

As I type, it’s just turned midnight, so technically, this is about yesterday, but as I haven’t slept yet, it’s still today, Tuesday! We got back to Em and Jeff’s about 11.15pm from a full day out in wonderful Sydney.

Em left for work really early, so Jeff and I leaving at 8.15am to head in seemed quite a slow start! 15 hours, 15km and over 22500 steps later, we’ve had quite a day.

Jeff and I caught the train into Central Station, which takes about an hour and a quarter from their nearest station. Then a quick hop on the light rail to meet Em in the foyer of where she works ~ Australia’s National Maritime Museum. And then we left the museum to find decent coffee!

My ‘baby’ sister is rather accomplished. Em is the Creative Producer for the National Maritime Museum, which means she dreams up fantastic exhibitions ~  ideas, researching content, devising wonderful creative ways of communicating things, using as many different interactive and funky means as possible. I’m sure I’m not doing her justice really, but it’s all very cool.

Her latest exhibition is called ‘Brick Wrecks ~ Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks’ and, as the introduction explains, ‘why brickwrecks? Lego is cool. Studying shipwrecks is cool. So shipwrecks built from Lego are really cool’!

Em gave us a tour and after lunch left us as she apparently had some work to do…? Jeff and I explored more of the museum, including some of the boats of different ages moored outside on Darling Harbour.

Em managed to finish work early, and we headed off into the centre of the city, across to George Street, one of the main roads for shops and tall skyscrapers. We took time to visit the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) which is an ‘old’, large and stunning building housing 4 floors of shops in stunning surroundings. We had a wander inside and stopped for a welcome cuppa.

We then walked down to Circular Quay, the main place to catch the famous Sydney ferries and right in the heart of the city, between the Opera House, The Rocks Area, and the Harbour Bridge ~ lots of iconic sights! But it was dark… and the reason we got there when we did, was because at 6pm the Vivid Festival evening began.

How do I explain Vivid?! It takes place in the winter each year, every evening for about three weeks; and is a festival of light. There are light installations all over the city and projections onto iconic buildings, with music and telling stories. 

So we started with a good view one way, of the Harbour Bridge… and then walked around the harbour to have sight of the gorgeous Opera House… and then Em had booked us dinner at a pub in The Rocks area, up above the harbour, with a roof terrace and rather amazing views.

After that, we walked back down to the harbour and caught a ferry, under the bridge and back round to Darling Harbour, to the Maritime Museum, and there were more installations and projections en route and when we got there. 

We walked through to Central Station taking in more of the lights and ambience before collapsing on the train! It was a great day and so so lovely to see downtown Sydney again. Being in these gorgeous places brought back many memories of previous visits, with Paul, with my Mum and Dad, with Em, with my Gran and Grandad, and Auntie Richenda. I’ve been so fortunate to visit Australia 4 times in the 25 years Em has been here, and Sydney has been one of the highlights each time. 

Here’s lots more lights, Lego and lovely Sydney…