Sydney and the Blue Mountains

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Spent a couple of days exploring Sydney while staying with hospitable relatives, its bustling, expensive, big-city feel contrasting sharply with laid-back Tasmania. Watched an enjoyable performance of La Boheme at the stunning Opera House for a high-brow interlude, the impressive singers and orchestra supported by perfect acoustics. Later caught a ferry out to Manly for a storm-interrupted swim in the wavy ocean and a walk across the headland with its second world-war gun emplacements and pretty water dragon lizards (legally protected after being stolen for pets !).

Took first train-ride of the trip up into the Blue Mountains, staying in the little town of Katoomba. Saw striking "grand canyon-esque" views from Echo Point before a steep hike down and back from valley floor through dense forest, helping guide several confused tourists en route. Visited Wentworth Falls via the Charles Darwin walk (his only venture to inland Australia), for as he described a "quite novel and extremely magnificent view". Headed along the historic "national pass" track, carved from the cliff-face before scrambling over streams and sweating up lots of very steep, vertigo-inducing steps back to lookout. Next stop Queensland...

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Photos

Sydney Harbour Bridge
View from pylon

Sydney
View from harbour bridge

Harbour Bridge
From Manly ferry

Waterfall near Katoomba
Blue Mountains

Red and Blue Bird
Looks like parrot ?

Three Sisters
View from Echo Point

Wentworth Falls
Blue Mountains

Stairs (steep)
Lots of these....

Blue Mountains at dawn
View from room at friendly Cecil Guesthouse

Comments

[Blanka]

I miss Sydney!!
Nice picture Mr Stephen - a very steady hand on a moving boat!

[Blanka]

Gosh!
I remember these - quite a few sections looked like they were crumbling when we were there, but what a walk! Blue Mountains were definitely one of my favourite places we visited, so ... 'blue'! :-)

[Blanka]

Aaaah!
What a lovely picture! Thinking of a change in career when you come back?