Phew! Arrival in Sydney

With more relief than I thought I'd experience, we surrendered the car back to Hertz yesterday following a 2 1/2 hour drive in from Jervis Bay. This trip has been interesting as much for what we've learned about ourselves as what we've learned about Australia. I had occassion to drive on the left a few years ago, for example, and I was able to get into it; taking pride in being able to quickly adapt. This time and although "dread" is too strong a word, it wasn't something I relished. 

Weather is sunny and warm and promises to remain this way for our final few days - high of 27 today. Our hotel is adjacent to the harbour and Opera House and we're glad of it as we are tiring of travel. 3 to 3 1/2 weeks would have been plenty versus the 4 1/2 weeks of this trip.

Last night we took the city ferry to Cockatoo Island to attend Opera Australia's open-air production of Carmen. 

The ferry ride passed under Harbour Bridge offering a view back towards the Opera House. 

Cockatoo Island is a Unesco site that, in terms of Western settlement, served as a prison site until ship building took over as the main activity. This ceased about 30 years ago. Today it certainty has that gritty rust belt feel that the Opera employed in their staging; the set being made to look like an auto salvage business. 

It was a unique presentation with dirt bikes popping wheelies at the start of each act, fireworks at the intermission, etc. Regrettably, we froze our butts off as a strong wind swept up from the water. Like quite a few others, we left at the intermission.

Today we will take an Opera House tour and stroll through the Botanic gardens next door. Jacaranda trees are in full bloom here, it seems, so we'll try to post some photos.