Even though I took the harbour cruise tour I heard of a free tour not far from my hotel from one of the people I met on the Blue Mountain tour.
We started at what used to be the Town hall. Before then it was a graveyard with shallow graves. When the smell was too much the bodies were reburied.
Queen Victoria building or also known as QVB. The statue was originally from Ireland and given to Australia after Ireland had quite the spat with England. This building was a marketplace area 200 years ago before the building.
They have clocks at both ends that have English history on them at each hour including beheading of king Charles I at one of the clock strokes.
Pitt St. Mall shopping and food area. From here you can gain entrance to the clock tower.
This area used to be a sports center in the past. I keep hearing the comment that they hate bin chickens, which are really the Ibis. This is Hyde’s park and St. Mary’s cathedral.
Archibald fountain shows Australia’s friendship with France. The artist used Greek statues – maybe because the gardens in Versailles features them?
Sydney tower and the golden bucket. This is a water tank which is a counter balance against toppling because of the wind.
The original hospital and other sections were added on. He wanted England to pay for hospital but he was denied. He found people to sell rum to Australia exclusively if they built the hospital. Called the Rum hospital. However, sections were not built well and collapsed. Hospital was added on to over the years.
Macquarie’s statue. He was the first governor.
Pig statue. You donate money to the hospital and rub his nose for good luck. His nose has been rubbed quite a bit as well as another part of his anatomy!
Part of the hospital and also the New South Wales parliament House
Above the bank is the Australia coat of arms. They are chosen because both animals cannot move backwards and so Australia just keeps moving forward. They are the only country to eat the meat of their beloved national animals.
The General post office. The clock tower was taken down in 1942 as they thought it would be bombed.
Some Street art near on Angel place. There are 50 bird cages to represent the 50 bird species who are no longer here. Bricks on the ground have their names engraved and speakers play the bird’s sounds. If you go there at different times of the day the sounds change.
Sydney square where Obar is. This bar has a wonderful view of the city without the cost of the tower. This cool Statue sits in the square.
The Customs house which is now a library. In the floor is a mini Sydney city. It is the size of the lobby and really cool.
The symbol below is not a Nazi symbol. It is inside the entrance of the customs house. It has been prevalent in European and Mediterranean areas as a sign of peace and prosperity. It is a counter clockwise symbol whereas the Nazis symbol is clockwise.
Afterwards I walked to the Sydney Observatory and the South dome.
Afterwards I walked across the harbour bridge.
And back again…. Down to Walsh bay. There are beautiful buildings down here.
I was pretty hungry and intrigued about the cost of arms pizza you can buy at just one place. It is half emu and half kangaroo. I thought why not as I would not be anywhere to try this again. It is made at the Australian Hotel in the Rocks. To find it was a little walk in and among the cut rocks of the area.
That night I went to see the opera Carmen at the Sydney Opera House.
