Friday, August 29, 2008

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE tour

What an awesome day. We were up at 5:30 am so we could be at the Sydney Opera House for 6:45 am for a backstage tour. We were briefed about what we could do and not do, what we would be seeing etc. And we were warned that there would be at least 300 stairs on our tour!

We started at the scenery department and good luck shone upon us because they were moving some scenery from the previous preformance and using the vertical elevator. Quite a sight to see. From there we went up a spiral staircase to reach the stage portion to see what they were doing. Our tour took us to the Opera stage and the Drama stage and to one dressing room of the principal conductor. We were rushed in and out of various places because the concert was going to begin at 11 am for a lot of school children and as the staff were organizing the stage etc, we were moving on to the next portion of the tour. All in all it was a wonderful way to start our day. Included in this tour was breakfast in the Green Room. Kinda fun and the food was delicious. After 2 hours of touring the rabbit warren, it was good to sit down and have some food.

We took lots of pictures, just a few inside and a lot outside. I am sure I will be deleting some of them. I am hoping the close ups I took of patterns, turn out. I have an idea for these pictures....

We finally left the Sydney Opera House area about 11:30 am and walked back through The Rocks. This is the area we toured the very first day we arrived and at that time, had found some shops we wanted to return to and just look around. I feel like I have lived in this city for years - it is just so familiar to me. April, on the other hand, loses direction very easily.

We had lunch at our favourite restaurant - D.A.R.E. restaurant - Delicious And Responsible Eating. They just won the best take away and catering category for all of Sydney so the staff were pretty happy when we arrived. This place has gluten-free, sugar-free foods and most are vegetarian but no tofu.

April wanted to head back to the hotel but decided we should walk. This proved to be a challenge because everyone in Sydney seemed to out on the same sidewalks we wanted to use. It was a slow go at some points because people were hussling and bussling and darting in from of us or actually pushing us to move on. April put on her stubborn hat and just kept walking with her cane and we finally made it out the other end relatively unscathed. Not too sure of some of the ruder people who shoved just a bit too hard.....

We finally reached our hotel - about 7 kms from where we started out - and our bodies were letting know we were abusing them. After a brief sit down, we went to Paddy`s market. We needed a new suitcase and that is the cheapest place in town. For $30 AUS I picked up a medium suitcase with several pockets. If it lasts to get our stuff home and maybe another trip or two, I will be happy.

Dinner: We tried a Malaysian restaurant just about half a block away. The last time we tried to eat there, the line ups were around the corner. Tonight, we were first in line and got right in when the doors opened at 5:30 pm. Food is HOT....roti with sauce or chicken and rice with fried anchovies, hot chilli sauce, hard boiled egg and a glass of ice diet coke... After the first couple of bites, it seemed to tame down and was actually enjoyable. Dessert was a roti with pandam jam in the middle and ice cream on the side. This really cooled our mouths !!

After that, we came right back to the hotel because we are just tired. A long and exciting day. In the next blog, I will tell about yesterday. A bit backwards but then, whoever said I did things as they are supposed to be done.....Til next time

HUGS

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