Two days in Sydney

...and so began my two days in Sydney city. It was interesting to read in the newspaper, the headlines, 'What can visitors do in Sydney once they have seen the bridge and the opera house'. These two structures are what most people relate as Sydney, they are Sydney. I have to say I am simple and don't need a lot to entertain me. I am happy to wander and just soak in the atmosphere, see a different culture, see what there is on offer in the natural course of events. I don't have to spend money doing things or search out museums etc. I like to sit and drink coffee or eat somewhere where there are a lot of people so I can people watch and see how the culture of the people works. With all this in mind I began my trek around Sydney and I have to say, I think I walked for miles over the two days. As China Town was just by my hotel I decided on this as my first port of call. It was only a small place but it had some huge markets that I wandered through at leisure. The markets consisted of cheap clothes and fruit and veg, somewhat like Gosport market but on a much greater scale. From here I was able to access Darling Harbour, first of all walking by the vast entertainment hall where most of the big rock style concerts are held. Darling Harbour is a natural harbour the other side of Sydney Harbour Bridge, but leading up to the harbour are gardens and entertainment, cafe's and shops. There are endless water features and wide open spaces. At the far end it is very relaxing, as you approach the harbour end you begin to meet the locals and the tourists. At the harbour edge you can split two ways. To the left you reach the maritime museum (oh joy!) and a large shopping precinct, which from experience has some great sushi and free wifi, plus good air conditioning. To the right there are choices of an Imax cinema, restaurants, aquarium, the monorail and walking into the city. First day I chose the latter and second day the monorail. The monorail reminded me somewhat of Chicago and I think it must be a standard for monorails. It goes round in a square, you pay $4 and can get on and off anywhere over a certain amount of time. It stops at all the relevant places but only covers a small area, so it doesn't go down to Sydney Harbour. It also goes over the Pyrmont Bridge in Darling Harbour which is the world's oldest surviving electrically operated swingspan bridge. The current swingspan bridge opened in 1902 and replaced the first Pyrmont Bridge which began operating in 1857. The swingspan allows access for vessels that are too tall to travel under the bridge. In 1902, Darling Harbour was Sydney's industrial heart and served as the gateway to a bustling hub of warehouses, railway yards and international shipping. The bridge provided the main transport route between the city and Sydney's growing western suburbs. It has more or less lost this label now and is a hub of tourist activity.