CBD

Once upon a time Sydney was a very small place, too small to be called even a village; the first Europeans lived in tents and the aboriginals had no fixed dwellings. And once upon a time skyscrapers were something that all the world associated with New York City.

Now there is not a city in the world with at least a million inhabitants (and often fewer) that doesn't have a forest of skyscrapers. For decades now Sydney has been among them. Its Central Business District (or CBD) now presents a majestic sight, whether seen from any of the low hills that make up central Sydney or from multiple places along and across its beautiful harbor.

Sydney's CBD

The CBD Skyline from Mrs Macquaries Point

Sydney Harbour Bridge Note the group of people walking along the top arch of the bridge

The Harbor Bridge was opened in 1931 and just about put the ferries out of business. A growing population created enough traffic that the bridge is often jammed so the ferries came back and another bridge, ANZAC, was built. Tourists (for a lot of money) can take a guided tour to the top. For free you can walk across the bridge. We are wondering if we should chance it on bicycles.

The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Olympic Swimming Pool Across the water is The Wharf Woolloomoolong

The Wharf Woolloomoolong (what a wonderful name) a former warehouse turned hotel. For more than a century wool was exported from this and similar warves. When containers were introduced and container ports these wharves died, only to confirm the Buddhist belief in re-incarnation.

Our Elizabeth Bay unit is just out of sight to the left. If we are coming from there we walk through and past the big buildings on the spit of land that makes up Potts Point, descend to water level, pass through Woollomoolong (which sort of has a Greenich Village or Camden Lock feel to it) and then go on to the Art Gallery or through the Domaine and Botanical Gardens to Bennelong Point, site of the Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House