Australia & NZ (Land) -- Oct & Nov 2013

This was taken at dinner during the flight from LAX to Sydney on Virgin Australia air line. The salt and pepper shakers. These are based on the design of the Sydney Opera House. These seemed to be a more elegant design than similar shakers that were for sale at gift shop in the opera house. (IMG_4733.A495A.JPG)

First few images here are walking in downtonw Sydney near the hotel, which was, in turn, near the Circular Quay, the primary docking area for water taxis, harbor toruist cruise boats, etc. (IMG_4735.A495A.JPG)

Originally their customs house, I believe. Now is information center, restaurant, etc. (IMG_4737.A495.JPG)

The Sydney Opera House (finished in early 1970s). This is the major landmark of the city, It replaced their harbor bridge (finished in early 1930s) as the key landmark. The bridge is still there and shows up on many later photos (as does this opera house).

This is the first of several photos taken from a tourist harbor cruise boat. There was a quite knowledgable sales guy walking near the ticket booth dressed as Captain Cook (British navy uniform from the 1770s and a white wig). Sadly, I did not get a photo of him.

He acted like he was impressed that we knew who he was. He said many tourists from the US think he is George Washington. Of course, he was in Sydney Harbor which Captain Cook never entered, although (as this "Captain Cook" explained), the original Cook sailed past the entrance to it and noted that in his ship's logs and charts. Cook's landing was in Botany Bay, just south of Sydney (and where their airport is -- the main runway extends onto a part of the bay that has been filled in).

Going on the harbor cruise had been planned as a potential first-day activity as the overnight flight arrived too early to check into the hotel. However, the hotel did store luggage (and they had a special early-arrival lounge to brush teeth, put on frest clothing, etc.(IMG_4025.SX40A.JPG)

Here's the first image of the bridge. One description of it is "like a coat hanger". (IMG_4029.SX40A.JPG)

The stone-covered structures at each end of the main span (four of them in all) are called pylons. They are hollow and one of them is open to the public. Eent out to that one several days later (photos in a later album in this gallery). (IMG_4759.A495.JPG)

Replica of Captain Cook's ship, HMS Endeavour (the one used in his early-1770s discovery voyage). One of the US space shuttles is named for this ship (leaving out theHMS, of course). In naming our shuttle after this ship, we apparently forgave that it had later been used as a troop transport to bring British soldiers to North America to try to put down the American revolution. One story is that Endeavour was scuttled by the British to help blockade on of the port in New England. (IMG_4766.A495.JPG)

Back on shore near the Circular Quay. (IMG_4771.A495A.JPG)

An interesting series of sculptures near the Circular Quay. Or perhaps the entire set of them can be viewed as one large fountain. (IMG_4772.A495.JPG)

Next day. Took a hop-on/hop-off bus tour of Sydney. (IMG_4797.A495.JPG)

Staute of Queen Victoria, with the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in the background. This is one of several photos in what follows that was taken from a moving bus -- makes for not really good photos. (IMG_4050.SX40A.JPG)

Taken to capture this word (with four double-O's), which is a part of town. I later heard they added some O's to the original spelling to make the name cooler. (IMG_4062.SX40A.JPG)

Public sculpture by an industrial building (new match and a burnt out match). (IMG_4063.SX40A.JPG)

Bus trip took us out of town to some very expensive residential suburbs that have fantastic views of the city and the harbor. Unfortunately, what they do not have is convenient places for the bus to park or stop to photograph those views (probably partly because the land is so expensive and partly because the people owning the expensive real estate don't want tourists tromping around and have some political power to prevent it). This was taken from a moving bus and then cropped to remove extraneous stuff and give some idea of the views some houses had. There is a small public park in the foreground, but I'm guessing bus parking was not permitted there (didn't notice a parking lot, but I'm sure whatever was there was small). (IMG_4089.SX40A.JPG)

Taken from top level of moving double-deck toursit bus. Again, trying to give an idea of views from high-$ residential area. (IMG_4097.SX40.JPG)

Note Backpackers sign. Saw many of these. HIking, hitchhiking, and bus travel around the country is apparently very common. (IMG_4102.SX40A.JPG)

Rail station, I think. (IMG_4104.SX40.JPG)

An ibis. Saw these all over Sydney (and, later, Melbourne too). Later heard these were rare in Sydney until perhaps 20-30 years ago. (IMG_4105.SX40.JPG)

Sydney Tower. Tallest structure in town, but surprisingly difficult to see from many parts of town (including directly under it when trying to enter it). The next few images are from inside it. (IMG_4100.SX40A.JPG)

Linda and Leonardo DiCaprio. (IMG_4780.A495.JPG)

Well, not the REAL Leonardo. The observation deck in the tower is run by a company that has some other tourst stuff at other locations in town. They promote these other places near the entrance to the elevators to the observation decks.

From the observation deck, looking down (as are the next few photos). The trees in lower portion of this photo are most of the northern half of Sydney's Hyde Park. The park is shaped roughly like a race course, which is one of the things it used to be.

The row of buildings just east of the park (above it in this photo) are (from the left hand side): part of an old military barracks (now a museum), the cathedral, a large water feature complex, that is actually on the "roof" of a below-grade swimming and gymnasium structure, and the Australia Museum (visited later, on a different day). (IMG_4110.SX40.JPG)

The other half of Hyde Park. Structure in park was the World War I monument, but has been redesignated for all Australian soldiers. Sturcture on left hand side is the museum. I think they called the Australian Museum, but I think the REAL national museum is in the capital, Canberra. (IMG_4113.SX40.JPG)

Unsure about this, but was probably facing east, because that looks like the ocean in the background (I believe this section of the Pacific is called the Coral Sea). The main area for the 2000 Olympics (visited later) is in the opposite direction. This is probably a race track and/or a rugby or soccer stadium. (IMG_4112.SX40A.JPG)

Looking east toward the entrance to the harbor. Opera house is just out of sight on the left hand side of the photo. Some reflections off glass window of deck. (IMG_4114.SX40A.JPG)

This is looking roughly south. Body of water here is Botany Bay. That's part of the airport on the shore of Botany Bay. This is a high zoom shot. Some reflections off glass. (IMG_4116.SX40A.JPG)

Looking roughly west. ANZAC Bridge in center. Distant structures in upper left corner MIGHT be part of 2000 Olympic complex. Blue Mountains are on horizon at right. (IMG_4118.SX40.JPG)

Looking roughly northwest. (IMG_4122.SX40.JPG)

Probably looking roughly NNW. (IMG_4128.SX40.JPG)

Looking roughly north. I used different levels of zoom in the various photos taken from in the tower. (IMG_4130.SX40.JPG)

Note people on top of bridge just to the left of the more distant flagpole. They are doing the bridge climb.(IMG_4135.SX40.JPG)

Fort Denison. It was apparenlty first used as an isolation/punishment area for disruptive prisoners (transportees). Only later was it turned into a harbor defense in mid-1800s. Apparently advances in artilery made it oboselete by the time it was complleted (but, on the other hand, Sydney was never invaded from the sea -- at least not after the Brits took it -- if there were any attempted invasions in this region I'm not aware of it). (IMG_4144.SX40.JPG)

Sydney Zoo. The dock is for harbor ferrys and water taxis, but the the ferrys (and the dock) also serve residential areas. The zoo entrance is at the top of the hill. The circular structure just left of center is the bottom station of a gondola lift that takes people to the zoo entrance (passing over some animal pens). They also have bus service to the zoon entrance.

This is the last photo from this tower. (IMG_4146.SX40.JPG)

Statue of King Edward VII (1841-1910). Was never there at a time when the sun angle was right for a good photo. Back on the tourist bus here. (IMG_4160.SX40.JPG)

Supposedly the classic Sydney photo opportunity -- with both iconic structures. From moving bus. (IMG_4169.SX40.JPG)

Next several photos are inside QVB (left bus there for a lunch stop). I believe it was once a government building, but is now a VERY expensive urban mall. (IMG_4786.A495.JPG)

Still inside QVB. I was impessed by the number of warning symbols at the entrance to an escalator. (IMG_4793.A495.JPG)

This is inside the opera house, later in the evening (after leaving the tourist bus). Had tickets to a symphony concert (mostly just to make sure of seeing the interior). This is a sort of reception area off a hallway. This lady is giving a pre-concert lecture about the music that will be played. (IMG_4799.A495.JPG)

Not a very good photo. Orchestra (not in focus) is just below center of photo. Note organ pipes behind them. Seats behind orchestra are for performances where they have large choirs. They sell these "behind" seats for some performances where there are no choirs -- including this one. The disks hanging from the ceiling are apparently to "fix" some flaws in the aucoustic design of the building (or try to). (IMG_4800.A495.JPG)