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Sydney is so comfortable, laid-back, cosmopolitan, and tolerant. It's a big city, but not so rushed, not as hustle-and-bustle as New York or London. It's as clean as a California city with a mix of sun and showers in spring. Downtown is dotted with American brand names mixed with Briticisms -- Starbucks on one corner, and "Way Out" signs everywhere.
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Animals From a Land Down Under November 8, 2004
Ttrealtravels2005-12-26 16:10:49
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Sydney is so comfortable, laid-back, cosmopolitan, and tolerant. It's a big city, but not so rushed, not as hustle-and-bustle as New York or London. It's as clean as a California city with a mix of sun and showers in spring. Downtown is dotted with American brand names mixed with Briticisms -- Starbucks on one corner, and "Way Out" signs everywhere.
Sydney is such a mix of cultures. Sari-clad women walk past McDonalds. Chinese taxi drivers call you "mate." Buildings range from Victorian to Art Deco to 1960s modrene. Yesterday's futuristic. The Harbour Bridge was built in 1932, but it looks both Victorian and advanced. Opposite is the Opera House, opened in 1974, and looking positively space-aged.
With all these varied influences, Sydney feels rather American to me. I mean no disrespect to the Aussies -- Sydney resembles the best of the U.S. melting pot. Though perhaps not so melted. Each influence is apparent and retains its unique appeal.
The long flight from L.A. to Sydney wasn't as bad as I imagined. Starting at midnight made it easier to sleep half the flight through. We couldn't check into our room when we arrived at 11am, so we headed out. Our hotel, the Stellar Suites on Wentworh, was well situated in the center of town, right on Hyde Park.
We walked about a mile to Darling Harbor. This very touristy area is home to the Sydney Aquarium. If you like fish at all, you'll adore this aquarium! It must be one of the very best in the world, and it's definitely among the largest.
From river ecosystems complete with platypuses (platypi?) to a huge display on the Great Barrier Reef, this aquarium gives a complete view of the Southern Hemisphere's aquatic world. The two best spots were floating displays where we walked through glass tubes underneath the tanks. The first gone goes through the seal colony. Sleek, dark fur seals swim over
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See photographs from:
Australia Gallery
