Interlude – Winter Afternoon at Manly Beach

Sydney
The Manly Food and Wine Festival took place the weekend we arrived home in Australia.
We thought we’d follow our own advice on how to avoid jet lag, so after one of us took a nap (me) and the other got a head start on unpacking (Clive), we took a late afternoon walk to Manly Beach.
Among thousands of [...]

Biggest Day for Cruise Ships in Sydney Harbour

Sydney, Sunday
Today was the biggest day of the season for cruise ships in Sydney Harbour.
As mentioned in my earlier post, ‘Peak Hour for Cruise Ships on Sydney Harbour,’ there were four passenger ships in Sydney today, three of which couldn’t fit under the Harbour Bridge.
Clive’s daughter drove to our place from south of Sydney this [...]

Sydney’s Last Day of Summer

Sydney, Saturday
As those of you in the Northern Hemisphere feel spring in the air, today is the last day of summer in Australia.
Late this afternoon, Clive played a Tracy Chapman music DVD, including ‘Fast Cars’ and ‘Baby Can I Hold You,’ both performed in Paris.  I love these songs and love the way she sings them.  [...]

Sydney French Film Festival

Sydney, Friday
Alliance Française in Sydney is sponsoring a French Film Festival from
4-19 March, 2009.
Earlier this week, we saw banners flying on George Street in Sydney’s central business district.  The online festival information lists over thirty films from which to choose.
Opening night features Paris 36.  Has anyone seen this?  I love movies, and just browsing through the list [...]

Peak Hour for Cruise Ships on Sydney Harbour

Sydney, Friday

This evening we watched Cunard’s Queen Victoria make its way up Sydney Harbour and out to sea.
A short while later, the P&O Arcadia entered the Harbour on its maiden voyage.  We heard on the news that some people paid £25,000 to travel from the UK.  This is quite a bit more than was paid by the [...]

Australian Bushfire Tragedy

Sydney, Sunday
Australian summers are hot, and one of the biggest dangers is bushfires.  The combination of fierce heat and high wind can be devastating.
For the past several days, the state of Victoria has experienced terrifying bushfires. This evening we watched a special one-hour news report about the tragedy, in which so far over 80 people [...]

Cruise Ships in Sydney Harbour

Sydney, Wednesday

Summer brings cruise ships in and out of Sydney Harbour.  They usually come through the Heads just before dawn, so passengers can see the sun rise over the Opera House.
Although we don’t have a particular desire to go on a cruise ourselves, it’s fun to see the different ships when they berth at the [...]

Happy Australia Day and Chinese New Year Day

Sydney, Monday
January 26 is Australia Day, a national holiday commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet from England. Citizenship ceremonies are held in major cities, and awards given in recognition of service to community and country.
Australia Day is another opportunity for Sydneysiders to be on or near the water, enjoying the Harbour in all its glory. [...]

Monet in Sydney

Sydney, Sunday
Clive and I went to “Monet and the Impressionists,” an exhibit at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a few days ago. About ninety per cent of the paintings are from the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, with others from Australian art gallery collections.
This is the last week of the exhibit, [...]

Living in Royal National Park, Sydney

Sydney, Saturday
Clive’s daughter K. lives and works in Sydney’s Royal National Park.  She’s in a management role in an organisation which partners with Sydney schools and churches to offer young people structured experiences combining study and outdoor activities.
K. has been on holidays over Christmas and New Year, and yesterday we were able to spend some [...]