The only good photo I managed to get! New Years Sydney.
I landed in Sydney on the morning of the 30th of December and caught a shuttle bus to the centrally located Metro Hotel on Pitt street. I checked in, then had a little sleep before venturing out to an area known as "The Rocks" near to Sydney Harbour Bridge. I didn't want to spend all day visiting the bridge and the Opera House as I am due to visit these again in a few weeks. I liked Sydney, unlike many UK cities it seems to be a friendly place and like Brisbane has a kind of chilled out vibe. I guess thats just Australia in general really. I think I may even try and get a job here for a while.
If I'm completely honest I was a little disappointed by the view of Sydney Opera House. For some reason it looked a little yellow compared to the bright white colours you see in the postcards. The Harbour Bridge was immense, a huge, impressive structure dominating the skyline in front.
I was convinced the Opera House was much more spectacular from a different angle. I walked back to the hotel to meet up with Dougie who had been on the coast doing a spot of surfing. We decided to go for a wander around before chilling out and watching Charlton vs Aston Villa. Villa were awful and played like relegation candidates, hence I went to bed in a downbeat mood.
On new years eve myself and Dougie did a bit of shopping in the day. I bought myself a cheap pre-pay mobile phone in preparation for any job related phone calls.
In the evening we headed to the Royal Botanic Gardens for a great view of the Sydney Opera House with the Harbour Bridge just behind. The streets were packed with all sorts of different people from all over the world heading in different directions to different places to celebrate the new year. The Botanical Gardens were busy with many people having been there all day, thankfully Dougie's friend had been one of these people and had saved us a perfect spot. The view was amazing and the Opera House looked stunning.
There were fireworks at 9 o'clock and then later as we saw the new year in at 12. They were spectacular and I just about managed to capture one decent photo on my camera (Lots of people had tripods for there cameras). At 12:30 the Gardens were attempting to close with police ushering people out. By this point I'd had plenty to drink, I left Dougie and his friend in the gardens and staggered back to the hotel. Back at the hotel I somehow managed to lock myself out of the room in bare feet so I had no other option but to venture to reception to get a spare key, much to the amusement of the receptionist (who had probably been watching me on the security camera). Much of the following day was spent in bed fighting a hangover.
...never again I said....
..well till next year anyhow.
