Day 15 Sunday, March 23

We enjoy an excellent breakfast this morning, served in our hotel's dining room.  I always enjoy breakfast with Norma, Donna, Jeanne, and sometimes with some of the others in our group.  It is a really great way to begin another day of adventure in the land down under.

We leave our hotel for the short drive through the city streets to the Sydney Opera House.  At one intersection we saw these guys on opposing corners...???

The Sydney Opera House is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world.

The phenomenal architecture involved in creating the many levels, venues and acoustics is mind boggling.  The genius design of the tiled roof is amazing.

  The Opera House is enormous, encompassing several levels, small and large theatres, restaurants, gift shops, small cafes, and lots of open space for all the crowds that are sure to attend the performances there, not to mention weddings and other events.
We enjoy a narrated tour with a very animated aspiring actor/tour guide.

On this glass-walled level that provides stunning views out across Sydney Harbor and with this magnificent purple carpet, workers are setting up tables etc. for an upcoming wedding...

                           ...Rosemary, at the stunning purple-carpeted stairway..

..Donna w/BooBoo on the parquet dance floor where a bride and groom will soon be presented..

 ...the gorgeous views from inside the Opera House!

When I look down I see a TV crew setting up for a live shot....

 We are allowed to go inside a few of the theatres however in most of them we were not allowed to photograph because there were workers/actors present.  One very large theatre was totally empty so I got some photos there....

 ...the acoustics in this theatre are so designed that the voices on stage do not require amplification!

Everywhere we look we are in awe of the amazing structure surrounding us!

 We spot another of Sydney's famous painted rhinos while inside the Opera House!

 ...and all about, inside and outside there are uniquely designed public spaces....

BooBoo is one very lucky monkey, traveling the world, enjoying one stunning view after another!

 Since Opera House Security doesn't allow any large purses/backpacks inside the Opera House or theatres, I had to check my small daypack at the entrance, but BooBoo insisted on going along on our tour, tucked inside Donna's fanny pack!

...and of course I had to take this photo inside one of the many immaculate restrooms at the Opera House.

We stopped in at one of the Opera House Gift Shops to look for souvenirs and Jeanne and several others from our tour group went to the nearby ticket office to purchase tickets for a "Best of Opera" performance tonight in the Opera House's Joan Southerland Theatre.

If you ever get the chance to travel to Australia, a visit to the Sydney Opera House is a must!  It was truly breathtaking to actually be inside such a magnificent building.  One of my favorite excursions so far on this trip!

Following our awesome tour of the Sydney Opera House, we enjoyed a guided sightseeing drive, seeing many interesting landmarks, including the Queen Victoria Building, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, bustling Kings Cross and popular Bondi Beach.

 The city sits on sandstone therefore a lot of the city's buildings are made from sandstone.

 We took a stroll through Hyde Park....

Do you see that round tower?  That is where we will be having lunch today.

 How would you like your address to be in Woolloomooloo City???

Australia's Woolworths are grocery stores and our guide told us they are no relation to America's Woolworth.

We take a short break when we arrive at the popular Bondi Beach, located right in Sydney.  I couldn't resist taking a photo of this sign outside the public restrooms at Bondi Beach.  There were open shower stalls inside so I guess they don't want any perverts snapping nude photos. 

Since it is Autumn here, folks are taking advantage the final warm days this year, plus since today is Sunday, Bondi Beach is crowded.

 We walked down to the beach to dig our toes into the warm sand...

We arrive at the Sydney Tower Revolving Restaurant.

 ...take the elevator to the top....

 ...time to enjoy an awesome lunch and the incredible views of Sydney spreading out many feet below us...

 Jeanne says she could live like this always!

After enjoying our delicious "lunch with a view" we had the rest of the afternoon/evening free to explore on our own, around Darling Harbor, Sydney's favorite destination for leisure and entertainment, with more then 40 restaurants, cafes, museums, theatres, parks, and specialty shops.

While the others explored, I walked the few blocks back to our hotel, showered, went to bed and was fast asleep by 5:30 p.m.  I slept right through until 4:00 a.m. the next morning!  I need all the rest I can get to help me fight off this upper respiratory infection.

Tomorrow we fly to Cairns, Australia where we will sail out to the Great Barrier Reef!