Pyrmont, a room with a view

16th of February, 2018

Today, we all move for a weekend to the apartment of friends, who left for a couple of days. Not only the apartment is one of a kind, the view is also amazing. On one site you see the famous Anzac Bridge. At the far end, the skyscrapers of Sydney are dominating the horizon. The balcony is made for living outside and ships are sailing up and down right in front of us.

 

I have a quiet day, but decide in the evening to collect my daughter from her work at Circular Quay, in CBD or Central Business District. There should be a walk-way along the water, starting down at the apartment. It all looks pretty dark outside and I don’t know how safe it is, but I still want to try hiking to town. Within ten minutes I notice I am not the only one enjoying the cooler evening’s temperature and once arriving on the pedestrian Pyrmont bridge, which takes you to central Sydney, the crowd is overwhelming.  I totally forgot it is Chinese New Year! During the first couple of days, I noticed already that Sydney is mainly occupied by Chinese people, but tonight it is only Chinese! Except me……and a few others……

 

I work my way through Pittstreet, until I reach my daughter’s workplace. Circular Quay is bordering the touristic harbour, the Opera House, the Rocks and the train station. It is all happening here! In the park around the harbour, you can find enormous blown-up animals of the Chinese Zodiac and tonight is the start of the New Year and it is just crazy out there! I go up to my daughter’s workplace, right here in CBD and sip a wine, while she and her team are waiting for the last customers to leave. We decide to walk all the way back and by now it is past eleven in the night and the streets are filled with drunken people! Mind you, more Aussie’s and foreigners now……

17th of February,

It is my birthday and the ‘son in law to be’ is still working his way through the weekend, but my daughter is off and we go for a hike over the Anzac Bridge, towards Blackwattle Bay.  The Anzac bridge is one of Sydney’s outstanding landmarks. With a cost of around $170 million it became a key link between the city and the suburbs to the west. It is the longest cable-stayed span bridge in Australia. The finished deck is fully supported by the cables!

 

 

The hiking trail takes us all around the bay, with different parks and panoramic views.

 

 

Finally, we reach the Fish-Market, where people are not only buying, but also eating! Again, I have the feeling that I arrived in China.

 

 

My daughter advises me to go to another company at the same location, where it is quiet and relaxed. Here, at De Costi, we buy prawns, a very tasty seaweed salad and a few Rock Oysters. We already brought our own wine and sit down for a delicious meal! I definitely want to go back before I leave…….

 

 

In the evening we walk to Newtown Hotel, where the balcony reminds me of New Orleans. My daughter worked here a few years ago. We meet up with a friend and look down from the balcony on the street, while sipping a beer.

After, I am treated for a tasty birthday meal at ‘Hartsyard’, also in Newtown. Again, we share all different courses and I am impressed with the “fine cuisine” here in Sydney. Our evening continues on the balcony of the apartment, soaking up the amazing views over the city and enjoying the heat of Sydney’s summer night.