AUSTRALIA IN THE SYDNEY HARBOUR 1991

After a rousing day of sightseeing in downtown Sydney, we start day two off on another tourist adventure. The girls were excited, not, and showing signs of passive resistance on only their second day. Looks like this was going to be a long 3-4 weeks until we get home. Most of their enjoyment at this stage in their lives revolved around the swimming pool, a theme park, spending money in the shops, eating room service and watching movies in the Hotel (wherever we stayed). Going on tour with Mom and Dad ranked real low on their list of things to do. However, this day, they did not have a vote.

We were going to get on a boat and take a tour of the Sydney Harbour. This was a big old replica sailing boat, and it was more of a cruise than a tour. We started off waiting in line by the Sydney Opera House which gave us ample opportunity for some photos. I must say Sydney is as beautiful of a city as we had ever seen. Reminded me in some ways of San Fransisco.

The day was sunny, we were coming into the fall season in Australia, we were on a boat, looking at sights, and the world was at peace. The first thing you notice about the Harbour are the hundreds of sailboats skimming the tops of the water and weaving their path amongst the others. From a distance it looks wall to wall sails and feels very festive.

However if you had been transported from the UK in the 1700’s, for some petty crime or a debt you could not pay, you would probably not feel quite so festive. The sight of the Sydney Harbour must have been a “focusing” event after a couple of months on a prison ship out of England. You would have been sick, half starved, frightened and filthy. I expect for some, land was a welcome sight, even knowing you would never again see home. The girls trapped on this boat with mom and I, sipping their cool soda and eating bonbons, probably felt much like the prisoners.

In any event we circled the inner harbour and the guide showed us the houses of the rich and famous on the cliffs along the seaside. There were some veritable mansions, where some were raised along this harbour and others still frolicked on the beaches below. Speaking of frolicking, we passed a beach that the guide announced was a “nudist” beach frequented by the locals. Everyone rushed to that side of the boat, in order to catch a glimpse of a sixty year old Aussie with all the sags and a butt of a 60 year old Japanese soldier. Fearing that the boat might capsize, I stayed calmly in my seat, even though I was accused later, of putting my full zoom on that beach, by ol’ Bubbaloo. I think Ron was the first one to the rail, followed by Ange who asked, “Mommy what means nudist?”.

We had a lunch on the boat and spent a couple of hours touring the water and looking for more “interesting” sights. It was beautiful!