Day 4 in Sydney, another beautiful day and by now the memories of the rain and overcast skies when we arrived had long gone. Today we made an effort to explore further afield than the ferries could take us (you have to love the ferries though).
First stop was the Anzac Memorial but on the way we passed and admired the Christmas display at David Jones that we had briefly seen the night before. It was drawing crowds even on a Monday morning and consisted of automated puppets around well known carols. All very professional and tasteful.
The Anzac Memorial, located in Hyde Park near to David Jones, was very moving. While constructed following the First World War it also remembers the fallen from subsequent conflicts including Korea and Vietnam.
Next stop was the Art Gallery that was currently hosting an exhibition of Picasso however as we had to pay we opted instead for the free stuff. There was some great Aboriginal art which is definitely very skilful and I appreciate any art that has taken effort and skill (rather than the "throw the paint on the floor" type of abstract art!)
Another clever display was a video presentation where the artist had been filmed in London with a drumstick playing on various street objects (iron railings, lamp posts etc). The funny part was when he tried to use a Merc and set off the alarm in the process. He didn't stop around to find out if the owner was near!
Onwards to the Botanic Gardens (I hope you know the difference between a Botanic Garden and Botanical Gardens by now!). These had been established very early on after the first ships arrived and contain many mature trees and shrubs. It also occupies prime harbour frontage next to the Opera House opposite side from the Bridge.
Even though it was a steaming hot day it was packed with thrusting, jogging and sweating Sidney-siders doing their best to force an early coronary during their lunch hour. The Fleet steps were a particular focus for this activity and Nicola and I joined in the fun by haring up and down the steps only to realise that the locals were doing multiple circuits and not just a single one. No wonder I beat most of them.
Home for lunch and a chance to cool down before we tackled the 3 hour Bridge climb. Having booked the climb for 17:25 we hoped the weather would hold to give us a good sunset at some point.
The whole experience is first class starting with an excellent induction video, through the good quality kit (complete with handkerchief attached to your wrist) and the route across the bridge structure itself. Throughout the trip you are able to hear the guide through headphones so even though the wind was gusty at the top you heard everything. If the demand is there the tours continue 24/7 364 days rain or shine. We where grateful that the weather held and saw the sun set over the city.
Most of our admiration went to the men who built the structure. Only 16 men were killed during it's construction compared with the Brooklyn Bridge which was completed around the same time with the loss of 125 lives. The most amazing story concerned an engineer who survived a fall of 55 metres with a couple of broken ribs and work boots that had split with the soles requiring surgical removal from his feet and the uppers around his thighs. His survival can be partly attributed to his clear thinking as he fell and the fact that he was also a high-diver. He returned to work after 17 days and received a gold medal and a pair of new boots.
Home around 22:00 on the last ferry.