When considering our itinerary for today, we spotted a free walking tour. The guides started the organisation and are still in education (Josh, our guide, is a history student at the university).
We spent over three hours walking from the Town Hall to Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in many detours on the way, including the Queen Victoria Building, and listening to lots of information and interesting stories too.
We spent over three hours walking from the Town Hall to Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in many detours on the way, including the Queen Victoria Building, and listening to lots of information and interesting stories too.
What value! The guides make their money from tips - and Josh was well worth it.
If you're ever in Sydney, look out for the tour. Apparently similar tours run in Melbourne but we had no idea about them while there.
The story which tickled me most was about the Rum Hospital.
If you're ever in Sydney, look out for the tour. Apparently similar tours run in Melbourne but we had no idea about them while there.
The story which tickled me most was about the Rum Hospital.
Macquarie was the Governor at the time, and this coincided with a population containing many convicts. When he requested funds from the Crown to build a hospital he received the thumbs down. No matter, he was a man who could come up with alternative ideas and devised a plan to give all liquor distribution to three entrepreneurs. The pay off for Macquarie was that they build a hospital.
In fact, they did more than enough to fulfil their part of the deal and paid for the construction of a massive building, with North, South, East and West wings, far too large for the existing population.
The liquor connection earned it the name of the Rum Hospital with locals.
Much of the building, with some renovations, still exists today.
This afternoon saw us at the Rocks Market, a lively location with a large variety of stalls.
Jess, a friend of Dave's, joined us for an evening meal and after which she took us to the sixty first floor of her work building, the Governor Philip Tower, and showed us some breathtaking views of the city.
That would have been good enough, but whilst there, the sun lowered to below the horizon, affording me dozens of photos in the various stages of setting. I won't include them all here!
Great finale
Dave writes:
Quick morning stroll round Kings Cross where we have been staying.
Almost as lively at 0930 am as on the evening with drinking still going at one bar and a night club chucking out last revellers.
Vibrant area with great diversity but not too many over 60s around.
Great finale to our stay in Australia as we meet up in the evening at Jackson's on George Street with Jess, an old work pal from the London 2012 Olympics and now back in her native Australia.
Jackson's a favourite haunt down by the quayside and ferries but all topped, literally, by Jess taking us to her workplace - 61 storeys above the city.
Amazing vistas - and all captured by Jean's wonderful camera work
Dave writes:
Quick morning stroll round Kings Cross where we have been staying.
Almost as lively at 0930 am as on the evening with drinking still going at one bar and a night club chucking out last revellers.
Vibrant area with great diversity but not too many over 60s around.
Great finale to our stay in Australia as we meet up in the evening at Jackson's on George Street with Jess, an old work pal from the London 2012 Olympics and now back in her native Australia.
Jackson's a favourite haunt down by the quayside and ferries but all topped, literally, by Jess taking us to her workplace - 61 storeys above the city.
Amazing vistas - and all captured by Jean's wonderful camera work
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