Two months ago, Hayley and I snapped some night photos in Circular Quay. We cranked up the shutter speed and closed off the aperture to get the elegant, glowing effect.
The Sydney harbour bridge spanning over the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The Opera House on a bustling Friday evening.
Circular Quay, the Circular Quay train station and the surrounding hotels, shops and office buildings. On the far right is the Overseas Passenger Terminal for large cruise ships.
I woke up bored and peevish. I will dub today “Blue Saturday” (a rip-off of “Blue Monday”), the most depressing Saturday of the year, when the holidays have passed and endless work awaits us on Monday.
Well, I was not going to succumb to the depression. I got dressed, tied my shoe laces and ran out the door, leaving my iPod on the counter. I ran west- inland- towards Crow’s Nest and cut north. I ran over the highway and passed an old World War II monument and a stone clock tower. Shortly after I came to the most remarkable monument, Long Gully Suspension Bridge.
Before Tunks Park was created, Long Gully Bridge (aka Cammeray Suspension Bridge) crossed over the Sydney Harbour.
I walked across the bridge, then continued down to Tunks Park. The view in all directions is stunning, the harbour lies to the east, Jungle surrounds the entire park and to the west is that stunning stone bridge. It just so happens that this park is situated in the middle of Northbridge, a beautiful community that is rich with Aboriginal and European history.
I realized at this point I was lost. That can happen easily when trotting aimlessly around the meandering Sydney harbour without a map. I hiked up a hill to the south and back down a side street. It terminated in the back of Green Park, where I regularly play tennis- very lucky, indeed.
On the way back to our studio, I picked up a Frangipani flower for Hayley. It seemed like the perfect souvenir from such a wonderful place.
Hopefully Hayley won’t mind that I share her gift with the world.
And so that was the start to my day and my weekend. So much for “Blue Saturday.”
Last weekend wasn’t bad either. Hayley and I opened our Christmas presents and did Christmassy things. We packed up around 11 am, took the bus across the Harbour Bridge to the Sheraton on the Park in downtown Sydney and checked in to our new home for the next 24 hours. We spent the entire day relaxing and using the facilities, and at night we ordered room service, cracked open some champagne and watched a movie. The next morning we enjoyed a free buffet breakfast. The short vacation was just what we needed after several months of hard work.
Somethings never change, no matter where you are.
New Years Eve was also a success. We claimed our spot at St. Leonards Park around 4 PM. We relaxed, read books and drank champagne until midnight. The fireworks show spanned five different barges, not including the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Cheers to a great year and another excellent one to come!
