Sydney, Australia, Friday, February 16, 2018

Today we took a trip to the Blue Mountains, about 150 miles west of Sydney.  This range was named "Blue" because of the Eucalyptus tree vapors turning the distances a blue color.

Here's a close-up picture of the Three Sisters rock formation in the Blue Mountains.

A view of the distant Blue Mountains.

Pretty rough terrain.

Taking a cable car across the ravine.

They used to walk to the top of this one, but it's closed now.

In the railway car headed down into the ravine.

The track down.

They still mine coal in these parts, and the Chinese buy it.

An old coal mine.

 Luxurious vegetation in the valley.

A view upward.

Walking on the boardwalk in the ravine.

A sleeping koala.

 Another sleeping koala.

This koala is really tired.

A couple of penguins.

A kangaroo about to take a drink.

 A snake.

 A snake with his tongue out.

The snake is coming too close.  I think it's time to move...

This reptile is getting a good look at me.

Back from the Blue Mountains, near the Sydney Opera House at dusk for the start of the Chinese New Year of the Dog.

On the Opera House grounds with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

Sitting on the Opera House steps with a light show projected on its sails.

Sydney, Australia, Thursday, February 15, 2018

 Today we decided to take a bus tour and explore the city of Sydney.  We came across a statue of Captain James Cook.

 The statue dates to 1879, exactly 100 years after his death.  He was 51 when he was killed in Hawaii.

A close-up of Captain Cook.

Arriving at the famous Bondi Beach strip.

Walking to Bondi Beach.

 A view of Bondi Beach on a Thursday late morning. Another gorgeous day and not a cloud in the sky. Pretty crowded! Several more Bondi Beach pictures follow.

Bondi Beach is pretty nice!

Stop for a drink at the Bucket List.

A view from the top of the hill with Bondi Beach in the distance.

Back in the central business district there's plenty of shopping.

Sydney, Australia, February 14, 2018

 Arriving at the Sydney Opera House for our guided tour at 9am this morning.

 The front of the Sydney Opera House with the stairs leading in.

A view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Opera House steps.

Inside, one of the smaller venues.

A view of the "sails" from inside.

 The main concert hall.

And the balcony.

 A closer look at the sails.

A close-up of the tiles making up the sails.

Our hotel, the Pier One by Marriott. We are now on the ferry to Manly Beach.

Sydney on the left, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the center, and North Sydney on the right as we head to Manly Beach.

Arriving at the port at Manly Beach.

Between the port and Manly Beach there are streets lined with shops and restaurants.

 On our way to the beach.

 Arriving at Manly Beach.

 Some pictures of Manly Beach on a Wednesday afternoon.

A pretty nice day for the beach, temperatures in the low 80's and hardly a cloud in the sky.

Departing Manly Beach at the port, there is a smaller beach that is much calmer because it doesn't face the ocean, but faces inward toward Sydney Harbor.

A view of the Sydney Opera House from the ferry on the way back from Manly Beach.

As it was Valentine's Day, I took Judy to dinner at the revolving restaurant on top of the Sydney Tower. (You can see the shadow of the Sydney Tower at the lower right of this picture.) The Sydney Tower is the tallest building in Sydney. The view here is to the east, and Manly Beach is at the extreme left at the farthest distance.

As the restaurant rotated south, you can see Botany Bay in the distance. Botany Bay is where Captain Cook first landed and made claim to Australia on behalf of Britain in 1770.

 A view to the west-northwest shows the entrance to Darling Harbour in the left foreground, and the Parramatta River in the distance.

Finally, facing north, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A view of the Sydney Opera House is blocked by the large building on the right.