Day 29 - Australia Day in Sydney

Today we start our day with a short train ride to Martin Place, so we can get to the harbor faster. The day is dedicated to Australia Day. Australia Day is a nationwide holiday celebrated on January 26th, marking the landing of the first fleet in Port Jackson in 1788. In today's Australia, the celebrations aim to reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation, and are characterized by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards, and ceremonies.

Arriving at the harbor, we immediately notice the crowds of people, some of them brightly painted with Australian flags, carrying small Australian flags, or wearing shirts with flags. A speech is broadcasted on a massive screen on the water at the harbor. This is followed by Australian songs and chants by Aboriginals. At 11:30 am, a parade of boats and jet skis begins, as well as a military parade with 21 cannon shots and soldiers saluting. For me, it's a bit strange that warships, cannon shots, and military planes are part of such a festival. We read that some Australians see this day as controversial, as it celebrates the beginning of colonization (rather than, like other countries, Independence Day) and colonization is known to have had many negative consequences for the indigenous population (and probably still does).

We walk along The Rocks Square and admire all the food stands and the colorful hustle and bustle on the street. Then we walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is 134 m high and 1149 m long and was built of steel from 1923 to 1932. I start to feel a bit scared of heights and I'm relieved when we reach North Shore on the other side. At Milsons Point, we walk along the water for a bit and get some ice cream. Then we visit Luna Park, a amusement park that offers many attractions for children as well as adults. We take the ferry back to Circular Quay. We take a short afternoon break in our hotel room and go back to Circular Quay in the evening to meet up with the German yodel group for the fireworks. The fireworks are one of the main attractions on Australia Day and they are really impressive. After that, we go to Munich Brauhaus The Rocks, where Oktoberfest is celebrated 365 days a year.