There are two main shopping streets in Sydney, both run parallel to one another and go from circular quay where Sydney Harbour is. These streets are Pitt Street and George Street and my hotel was at the far end of Pitt Street. There is another street, Sussex Street which runs all the way down to Chinatown. All the streets are about a mile or a mile and a half long. Walking up and down, up and down those streets is an interesting and satisfying experience. In the middle of the streets where the shops are, you would not be aware that you are in the middle of Sydney, you could be walking around any High Street in any city in the world. Similar merchandise, similar consumers. Workers turning out at midday for a mass movement for lunch in the many city cafes and bars. My main lunches consisted of sushi and a freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit drink. Not being fond of queues I tended to wait until mid afternoon when it was quieter.
My first walk down George Street led me to Circular Quay, an area on the waterfront of Sydney Harbour which houses all the ferries that go to various locations round the harbour which may be otherwise difficult for the tourist to be able to get to. To the left are The Rocks and Sydney Harbour Bridge and to the right The Opera House. Both are spectacular monuments for Sydney and they never fail to take the breath away.
My first port of call was The Rocks. This is the oldest part of Sydney, the first part to be settled. It is nestled among the rocks that lead to the bridge. The rocky promontory where convict tents were erected in 1788. Despite generations of change, traces of early convict settlements can still be found. Pubs and churches, archaeological digs and houses all evoke memories of past lives and ways. The city’s oldest building, Cadman’s Cottage (circa 1816), is located here, along with the Argyle Cut, excavated by convicts in the 1840s. It is now more of a place for artisans. There is beautiful local artwork and there are craft markets at the weekend which unfortunately I missed (next time!). From here you can get to the Bridge. This offers you the chance to walk across or walk up, neither of which I did. As I walked back to Circular Quay, berthed alongside at the rocks was the P&O ship Aurora, so I knew that the harbourside was going to be inundated with Brits at Play - often not a pretty sight!