My friends and I decided that we would make the best of Sydney while we were there so we decided that we would plan to walk around the Botanical Gardens and go wandering around for a bit while we were there.
For a while, Sydney left a positive imprint in my mind…
One of the girls actually knew someone in Sydney through her mother and as everyone knows it’s always better to know someone when you’re in a place you don’t know. Even though he didn’t know us, he was really great to us. We thought he was going to be from New Zealand but it turned out that he was from California and was there working on his doctorate in Theology. It was really interesting talking to him and he took us a lot of interesting places. It was a relief for all of us, I think, because it was just nice to see another American after everything we had all been through. A bit of familiarity when you’re in a crisis is always welcoming.
I was excited because he was sophisticated and actually appreciated art and culture. When he said “lets go see the opera house” and started to actually talk about it I almost fell over. I was so excited. I never though I’d get to see any of this in my entire life and here I was with some random person who was taking us to see it all.
We even walked around to get a better angle of it.
Seagull wasn’t impressed.
The botanical gardens were also awesome. There was this guy blowing these gigantic bubbles and I seriously wanted to run up and volunteer to go inside his bubbles but I chickened out. Most of his volunteers were little kids. Pfft, I’m a little kid at heart.
Then we had some of the best dumplings I ever ate. Sorry I didn’t take a picture of that. I was too busy eating them and then they were all in my stomach.
Then we went back to the hotel and found out that our flight had been delayed for three more days and that the airline wasn’t going to give us a room anymore. That’s when shit got real… (Oh yes, there’s more. Stay tuned!)
Wait, the airline didn’t give you a room for the remainder of your delay?! WHAT?! What were you flying?! That’s INSANE. I’m tuned in for more!
WHAT?! They weren’t going to fly you out, and they wouldn’t pay for a room anymore?! That’s bullcrap. I can’t believe it. I can’t wait to hear part 3 of this story!!!! The picture of the seagull reminds me of Finding Nemo: “Mine, mine, mine, mine….”
Haha, seagulls always remind me of that too. I have another awesome seagull shot that is even more like the Finding Nemo seagulls that I will put in another post one day!
These pictures are delightful! Takes me back to being there. I see this story is expanding into a trilogy. *Stays tuned* hah.
Well I’m glad you got something good out of it…before shit got real anyways ;) lol. That first picture is AMAZING!! Best most awesome picture!!
Didja run into Georgina any? She lives in Sydney! :P
The pictures are so amazing and beautiful — Sydney seems like a really neat place to go!
…Great experience to be a part of! :D
I wish that I did! I totally forgot that she lived in Sydney or I would have looked her up!
I’m jealous! I want to see sydney! hopefully we’ll get to NZ and Australia over the next three years while we live in China… what happens next! I can’t believe the airline let you fend for yourself !
You have a “way with words!” This is very enjoyable to read. I’m just glad that I know your story has a happy ending! ~ Love, Mom
How long ago was this? The ash cloud was a while back, wasn’t it? It’s great to see you made the most out of your time there though! But it’s interesting to me how you say you were relieved to have someone show you around, etc, whereas personally I’m the kinda person that just likes to be given “local advice” and then left to my own devises. Which is what I did (led the family all around Sydney) when we were there last year, as well as on my own in various cities I’ve never been before overseas. Those bubbles were AWESOME though!!
This was back in the end of June when I first came over to New Zealand. :)
Apart from what you’ve mentioned will be in the next post, which doesn’t sound fun, it seems it was a good thing your flight got canceled. Having the opportunity to see places you didn’t think you’d get a chance to is awesome!
Love these photos! One of my favorite days while I was in Australia was the 2 days I spent alone in Sydney when I went to see Wilco (one of my fave bands) play there. One of the days I wandered all around the botanical gardens and opera house area. So pretty!
These pictures are beautiful! What a gorgeous day it was you spent in Sydney! Looks like you had a blast! Those giant bubbles are crazy. You totally should have volunteered! :)
Beautiful pictures as always. Sounds like an exciting trip…
Cliffhanger. Grrrr. I love that first picture. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s great you had someone to show you around though.
The Blogger
I'm Caity! I am a New Yorker who married a Kiwi and recently moved across the world to New Zealand. I'm a math teacher who enjoys the outdoors, photography, video games, music, and general geekery.
Life is a great big adventure and I am beginning a whole new journey. It isn't always easy but it is always worth it. ♥
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