Spring-ahhh Break 2011!

For my mid-semester break in September (yes, that is Spring Break here!), I had a girls week away to Sydney! My Rotary host counselor's wife, Cheryl Springer, and their daughter, Katelyn Springer (a Sydney-ite for the past ~11 years) were the perfect tour guides for one of the most beautiful and quaint cities in the world. My Spring Break with the lovely Springer ladies was the perfect Spring-ahhh break! (Spring-ahhh = my version of how to pronounce "Springer" in Australian... no "R" anywhere in there, haha.)

Sydney reminds me of a blend between Boston and San Francisco--it has a beautiful harbor, stunningly monstrous bridges, and hillsides crammed with tons of houses with the most amazing views over the waterways; but then it also has the red brick buildings, European type little nooks and neighborhoods and narrow alleyways, and New World/European ambiance of Boston or somewhere in New England. However... the best part on top of all of that, is it has legitimate beaches and better weather than either of those two cities!! Well, I have to admit the beginning of our trip was quite gray, windy, and rainy but it did not cramp on our plans, and by the end of the trip it was absolutely picturesque, as you can see below.

My first views of the famous Sydney Opera House, upon arrival in Circular Quay, in downtown Sydney! Cheryl and I did the Opera House Tour (followed by Happy Hour at the classy Opera House Bar!) and it was so informative and interesting. Some random facts--there is a pipe organ in there with over 10,000 pipes! Just to tune it alone took 2 years. The tour was well worth the money, even if you don't get a student discount like me :)

 Day 2 at Balmoral Beach. We had afternoon tea at the Balmoral Bath House, which is the old-fashioned beach bathroom/changing room turned into a really nice restaurant and cafe. It was a gray windy day--perfect for a nice, hot cup of tea. 

Day 3 was Sydney at its finest--wow. This is Cheryl and I at the Sydney Botanical Gardens 

The Sydney Harbour is just the most spectacular deep yet bright blue color--Brian tells me this is because it is a lot deeper than the San Francisco harbor develops an even more brilliant reflection. (Do you like my interchanging use of American and Aussie spelling--harbour and harbor. Geez, just as Aussie spelling is becoming second nature to me, I'm nearly heading back to the US!) 

Perfect touristy shot of both the Bridge and the Opera House

We had a nice morning drive to see the headlands. This is Chowder Bay behind us, and you can see the city centre deep in the background.

This is just one example of some of the amazing architecture around the city--this was an old seminary turned into an international hospitality university. 

We stopped at Manly Beach for a delicious seafood lunch at Le Kiosk

Katelyn, Cheryl and I being "womanly" in Manly. 

 We took a sunset stroll around Cremorne Point, the neighborhood where Katelyn lives. Every single turn had beautiful views of the water!

Sunset over the city 

Ferry crossing 

Cremorne Point 

The beautiful Sydney Opera House at night, but photography compliments must be directed at Katelyn!!

The quirky, retro Luna Park under the bridge 

Sydney Harbor Bridge by night 

So, apparently you can't go to Sydney without going to Bondi Beach! Cheryl made sure I got to see it, and I'm glad. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to lay out or swim (plus it was still a bit too chilly for that), but you can just imagine what it's like on a hot summer day!

The Blue Mountains are the mountain range an hour or two outside of Sydney. Quaint Leura Village in the Blue Mountains had beautiful springtime blossoms going--we stopped here for lunch (I had one of my first meat pies! so yummy!) PLUS afternoon tea and scones (you eat them with cream and jam here... ohhhhh my god, they are to die for... plus you also say the word "scones" in a very weird way, more like "skahhwns"...here, they aren't like a dry scone like we make, but they are more like a fluffy biscuit, but here "cookies" are "biscuits" so you must still call them scones/skahhwns!!).

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

The view from Sister #1

We rode the steepest railway line in the world at the Blue Mountains!

Mt. Solitary

Last evening shot of Sydney

I definitely left my heart... in Sydney. There were so many moments in the trip where I was overwhelmingly in love with the city and couldn't help but think, "Man, I wonder what it would've been like if I lived here instead of Brisbane..." On my Rotary scholarship application I put Sydney behind Brisbane and Capetown, South Africa, and Rotary granted me my first choice of Brisbane. However, then I reminded myself how lucky I am that I was NOT placed in Sydney: I would've never met the wonderful Springer family. They have been beyond generous Rotary hosts to me and have really made this entire year abroad the amazing experience it has been. They've been my little piece of home, comfort, and familiar friendly faces away from home. This Sydney trip was just the icing on the cake! I "ate, drank, shopped, photographed, and laughed so hard I couldn't breathe"-ed my way through Sydney! It will forever be one of the all-time favorite trips of my time here in Australia.