In another world

30 degrees and sunshine - finally summer. I really like the weather much better this way! So today I made my way back to the harbor, after all, I wanted to take beautiful sunny photos of the Opera House. On the way there, it was immediately noticeable that many more people (especially tourists) were taking advantage of the good weather. It was busier compared to yesterday.

The Opera House sparkled in the sun, simply incredibly beautiful. Today, there was another passenger ship in the harbor - yesterday's was a joke compared to this one. This ship was so huge that it resembled a high-rise building. The balconies that could be seen on one side were countless.

A little further along the pier, I met a German family who later met me again on the Harbour Bridge, and I was able to help them take a family photo.

Shortly afterwards, I continued and found myself in The Rocks district. From here, I easily reached the stairs to climb and cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Quite high here, people with a fear of heights should not look down ;)

There are cameras installed all around the harbor and on the bridge. It is called a Security Zone. Nevertheless, I don't feel like I am constantly being watched.

At the beginning of the bridge, there is a tower with a viewing platform, the Pylon Lookout. I had to climb about 200 steps to reach the viewing platform. And the view is worth it! You can hardly get a better view of Sydney. Here, you can not only see the famous landmark, but also get a view of the other side of the Harbour Bridge. The road that emerges between the skyline and merges with the bridge is also breathtaking.

The construction of the bridge took 7 years and 356 days and was built from 1924 to 1932. A total of 16 people died during the construction, but only two of them fell from the bridge.

When leaving the viewing platform, you will also come to a room where a short film is played. Impressive images of the construction of the bridge are shown here.

When I got back down, I noticed the warning signs on the bridge. It said that climbing on the bridge is prohibited and will result in high fines. However, depending on the location on the bridge, the amount of the fine also varied: it ranged from $2200 to $3000. Not exactly a small amount!

My next destination: Hard Rock Café.

I took the train from Milsons Point Station to Town Hall and walked the rest of the way. This took me to Darling Quarter, where my destination was also located. It is very modern and clean here. Despite the construction site, the noise is kept to a minimum and there are many cafes and restaurants here. I bought my must-have T-shirt and followed the signs towards China Town. In Darling Quarter, there is a small park called Tumbalong Park. Very modern and versatile, ideal for children as well. It is circular and surrounded by small cafes and restaurants. (By the way, I used a public toilet here - I don't know if it was because of the neighborhood, but it was super clean, modern and tidy. No comparison to German public toilets. For this standard, you would definitely have had to pay money in Germany!) The center of the park was fenced off with a notice that the area should not be entered during the filming. Just when I was there, a scene was being shot from a helicopter. Rumor has it that the filming is for Pacific Rim 2.

Arriving in China Town felt like being in another world. Everything was in Chinese characters and translated into English below. There were restaurants everywhere and the shopping center consisted only of Asian stores: hairdresser, dry cleaner, supermarket, and two stores where you could buy oversized colorful pillows. I decided to eat here: Handmade Noodles with Vegetables. Sounds good and tastes even better. I have never eaten such homemade noodles before, simply fantastic! Much better than those from a Chinese fast food stand. And the portion was so filling that I packed the rest into a doggy bag.

From China Town, I leisurely walked to Hyde Park to let the impressions of the day sink in. Hyde Park is, I believe, the most beautiful park I have ever seen. The hustle and bustle of the city is forgotten and you can enjoy the last afternoon sun rays. In the park, there were a few young people practicing with their skateboards, birds chirping, and above all, the 'sacred Ibis' was frequently seen. The bird is as big as a dog, black and white feathered, and has a long, black curved beak. Unfortunately, during my one-hour stay, I was bitten by a mosquito or something similar, three bites in total... What a nuisance!

Summary of the day: Sydney is a very diverse city with many beautiful corners. This is also confirmed by my 15,000 steps walked (almost 12 km) today - bus and train rides are not taken into account in the distance covered ;)