St. George Down Under

Tha City

February 17, 2009 at 12:22 pm (Uncategorized)

Well, yesterday was pretty freakin awesome, so it should be documented. I decided that it would be my day to go into the city to see the Opera House and such, so I did! A friend told me that the best way was to take a taxi to Epping Station, then take the train into Sydney. I did that, and it was pretty cool, but it cost me a bunch! I’m really glad that I took the train cause…I did it all by myself (while asking a few peeps) and made it to and from, which gave me quite a bit of confidence. It was also great to see the other parts of Sydney. I saw the suburbs, as well as the dirtier parts, kinda like slums, then the city part, which was beautiful. It was a good decision to take the train, but not because of time or money…just sightseeing.

The taxi, one way, from my place to the train station was a lil under $9, and the train itself, one way, was about $5. Transportation cost me, total, about $30. ugh. What I’m gonna do next time, and maybe tomorrow, is just take the bus. It costs $5 one way and takes about an hour, which is about as long as the train took.

I got into town and headed down to the Opera House, i had to see it. When I saw it it was like it was holy or something, its hard to explain. Something as iconic and world-renown as the Opera House just kinda takes your breath away when you see it…I’ve seen so many pictures, but to see it with your bare eyes is just incredible. I took a bunch of shots, then headed up to a bar/pub/reastaraunt to get some food, and ordered my first beer! An Australian beer called Toohey’s…the bartender said it was the most popular. I had fish ‘n’ chips, which was waaay good! It was very…’grown-up feeling’ to drink a beer with a meal. I definitely would have enjoyed a coke much more, but the novelty of drinking my first beer with a meal was powerful…if that makes any sense. Just a milestone.

After that I went back down to the wharf, to edge of The Rocks area, which looks out onto the Opera House, and took more shots. Had a nice UK man take a pic of me in front of the Opera House, which was tight. I had a lot of fun trying to be creative with shots of the Opera House. It’s difficult to not get a cliche shot because literally EVERY angle of the Opera House has been shot before. I kinda started to try to focus on different things in the foreground and have the Opera House as an out-of-focus background-it’s so iconic that it doesn’t need even 1/8th of the frame for people to realize what it is. I saw a sea gull and focused a bunch on it, then did some shots of a pirate-esque ship which turned out aight. It was a lot of fun to try to get MY shot of the Opera House!

I walked under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was awesome, then walked back along the wharf. As I was walking back I came across a bridal party taking pictures in front of the opera house…what a perfect place to get married! I also saw a bridal party in a horse-driven buggy goin under the harbour bridge. I went to the Circular Quay (pronounced KEY) area and walked up the steps of the Sydney Opera House. It was incredible being there, just amazing being below those sales. It was Sunday so the Opera House was closed, but it was still wonderful. 

Here, you can see what I'm talkin about...

I saw ANOTHER bridal party on the courtyard below the Opera House, so many weddings! I got a pic of the first bridal party walking past the Opera House, don’t kno how it turned out tho. So I walked up the steps so I was right there, next to the sails, sooo amazing! So freakin amazing. 

After about 3 1/2 hours I headed back to the train station and took it back to the apt. What a great day!!!!!