Weekend in Sydney - A Tale of Two Cities

I need to begin this by stating that I am glad I went to Sydney. However, it was like a tale of two weekends.

Part I: The Bad. I took the 530a flight to Sydney and was in the heart of the city by 900a. I walked around the Rocks and Circular Quay. The visitor center that Dr and Mrs Giebelhaus recommended that I start my day at didnt open until 930, so I decided to make my first official act in Sydney to be crossing the Harbour Bridge on foot. It provided me with a wonderful view. I got back in an hour and then got a ticket to ride the doubledecker tour bus around the city so that I could get a handle on the city. It was one of those where you can get on and off and have all day to ride the bus. So I took it until it got close to my hotel. I decided that it was a good way to get around instead of public transport and I had already paid for it. So I walk to the "hotel" that I had booked through the travel agent. It was called a "backpacker's inn" so I envisioned a one-star hotel. I was wrong. I got a hostel. A hot hostel that had no air conditioning. It was near 35C/95F outside. When I got to my room I almost cried. It was even hotter than outside felt. There was only enough room in the room for the bed, a table and a chair (and they barely fit). The bed was hardly usable. I won't even begin to describe the state of the shared bathroom. I sat in my room for about as long as I could handle it. I unloaded my backpack of everything that I was ok with if it got stolen (my clothes and toiletries). It was clear that everything I had on me that was worth anything was going to be on my person at all times. I had to get away from the hotel. So I hopped back on the bus and went around Sydney two more times. It was nice because I got sun and a good breeze so it wasn't so hot outside. I finally decided to head back to the hotel and get some rest (I had been up since 330a) and was exhausted from the heat and all of the walking. I get back to the hotel and tried to nap. It was, of course, hot as hell. There was also the prevailing odor of bad Korean food. I had the window open as far as it would and there was the lovely sound of construction to prevent me from getting as much rest as I could. Of course, the heat made it where my pillow was wet from the sweat. I laid there and thought about what I could do to correct this. I hated Sydney and I didn't want to. I knew the hotel was mostly the reason. It just so happened that I was about a block from where the study abroad group stayed when they were here in Sydney. It's also the same brand as our hotel in Brisbane (Ibis). I got myself together, walked to the Ibis and booked a room for the next night. The relief that followed was amazing. I went back to my room and passed out more than fell asleep. Thus ends the bad part of Sydney.