Sydney/Australia

March 8, 2024 Sydney

This morning I received terrible news from a friend: While walking his six dogs (all from animal rescue) in the forest, three of them ate poison that had been laid out there. Two of them were dead after twenty minutes, the vet was able to save the third. I met the dogs and was deeply shocked.

Today it was time to tender. I had a ticket for tender number 5, but was there at the right time to be dropped off with the first tender right next to the opera.

In order to get into the opera, you have to undergo a thorough check. I saved myself that and looked at the opera from the outside.

Afterwards I walked through the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden past Government House, admired the Archibald Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, turned into a busy shopping street and soon reached my destination:

The Sydney Tower Eye. A television tower that offers the best views of Sydney. Together with the entrance ticket I bought a day ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus. I spent half an hour on the tower, then took a quick tour of the shopping center from which the tower juts out and found the bus stop.

It took a long time for the bus to arrive and a long time for it to leave. The bus was crowded and I only found a seat when passengers got off one stop further on. But then I was able to put in the earphones given to me by the bus driver and even listen to the comments about the sights in German.

Now I could admire Sydney from the open top deck of a double-decker bus: The Australian Museum, the Kings Cross district, Woolloomooloo Bay, the Opera, the State Library, Central Station, the Maritime Museum, the aquarium, the Harbor Bridge from below and the oldest district, The Rocks. I got out one stop before I reached my starting point because now I had a new goal:

1 Bligh St. I wanted to take a look at this modern and particularly economical high-rise building because it was designed by an architect who also designed the future Stuttgart train station and with whom I have already spoken: Christoph Ingenhoven. I also went into the building and chatted with a receptionist who was full of enthusiasm for the building and pointed out some of the details.

Now I had to strengthen myself first. There was a food court nearby where vendors from various countries offered fast food to working people. I bought three Vietnamese summer rolls, couldn't find anywhere to sit, and left the food court. I sat on a staircase with a few construction workers and enjoyed myself.

Then I waited for the bus and drove almost the entire route again until I got off at The Rocks. As I drove past, I spotted my ship, which, as announced, had exchanged its anchorage for a place at the nearby cruise terminal.

The Rocks is a very lively area with old and new pubs, restaurants and shops. Every tourist to Australia is morally obliged to buy a boomerang made by locals as a souvenir (Späßle). When I discovered a copy that I really liked, I obliged.

Luckily for me, all that was missing was a cold beer. I found a place in the cellar bar of the "Löwenbräu", but didn't have any Munich beer brought, but rather tried a beer cocktail with the promising name "Snakebite".

Back on the ship I ate a little something, then, exhausted but satisfied, I lay down on my bed and took a short rest.

I still had one item on the program: In the on-board theater in "Aboriginal Cultural Odyssey" indigenous people showed and explained their dances.

After taking a look at Sydney at night, I finally went to bed.

Only my friend's suffering kept me occupied until I fell asleep.