Look! I'm really in Sydney!

and the weather is fantastic!  Well, when I say fantastic I mean it's unbelievably COLD, but it looks great.

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I spent yesterday around Sydney Cove, taking in the sights of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour, and the beautiful botanic gardens, which has some amazingly rare flora and fauna.

Around the edge of the Harbour various Australian Authors were celebrated with quotes in the pavement:

"The sun came up through the heads and stole it’s way to the Quay,  far over the bay. Each of the tiny  waves turned to flame, and as the sun rose higher it left pearly tracks across the water.  A month would not be long enough to imbibe such beauty....”

Miles Franklin 1879-1954

I like to think she was talking about this bay... it's absolutely beautiful.  The Opera House is as breathtaking as I'd always imagined and the harbour and bridge stunning against the scudding clouds.

The design of the Opera house was actually open to anyone, internationally and the winning design actually came from a Dutch man based on the Wing of a Swan and the sail of a boat. Which is nice.

The Harbour itself is full of lovely clean twinkly shiny Buildings that sparkle in the sun and reflect in the water (though not in this photo as the sun went in).  And the water is so blue and clear!



Had almost embarrassingly lovely walk (I couldn't stop grinning, being surrounded by so many lovely plants , under such huge sky, next to such amazing and iconic buildings) around the Botanical Gardens too, and saw the famous Wollemi Pine, the one thought to be extinct but was then rediscovered.  There are less than 100 still growing in the wild.  Loads growing in peoples houses worldwide though as they can be bought for $30 these days.

There were also lots of birds... the clever Ibis, which is not really indiginous to the city but like seagulls are excellent scavengers, so they thrive anywhere.  I still can't get over seeing all these creatures close up, in REAL LIFE.  Every time there is a chance to see a kangaroo, or a cockatoo i can't tell you how childishly giggling-and-jumping-up-and-down excited it makes me feel!

There were, conversely, also the stupidest birds in the world, the Spur Winged Plover (or Masked Lapwing) which apparently nest on the ground in the most exposed area that can possibly be found!  (hence the fact that it has to be cordoned off for it's own safety.)

Once it's eggs have hatched it will however, dive at intruders, and also pretend to have  broken wing  to lure predators away but frankly I think this is too little too late. I mean... seriously how can one of them not ever considered that,  to avoid the theatrical attempts and desperate diving later,  trees are undoubtedly better spots .  Everyone else is doing it but no, the plovers just can't be bothered with all that.  Look!  She hasn't even bothered to build a nest!  She has essentially just sat down and thought ".....this'll do."  Probably cracked a can open a can of special brew and  sparked up a fag.

However i have no further knowledge of this birds behaviour; I may be being unfair, and they may, upon the hatching of their offspring, become unbelievably fastidious and doting parents, but frankly if I was mother nature's social worker, I'd have my eye on this lot.

Anyway , I also saw a rather lovely tree, that looked as though it had fallen over drunk, called the dragon-blood tree, named after the red sap that flows out of it if it is damaged.    This sap is used for amongst other things to develop polish for musical instruments (the red colour you get on stringed instruments), though I do feel it ought to have magical healing properties with a name like that.

Also saw a rather beautiful mulberry tree that was taken from a cutting from the one in Shakespeare's garden, under which he apparently wrote many of his plays.

There was quite a cool looking sundial in the middle of the sweetest smelling, tranquil herb garden.....but sadly it was wrong....

And saw the Hugest Bats I have ever seen! You can jsut about see them hanging from this tree:

Wandered around for a lot longer, and had a lovely meal with Christine at a great Chinese in the evening... mmmmmm....lovely day.

Tomorrow the Sky Tower and Zoo!