Sunday, July 4, Sydney

Started with the Australian National Museum and saw the exhibits on Indigenous art ("Indigenous" being the current politically correct word for "Aboriginal") and Australian wildlife. Australian museums don't seem to mind people taking photos, so I took lots.


Across the street from the Museum is Hyde Park and the Anzac War Memorial. There were a few other people in the Memorial but it was absolutely silent; no one even whispered.

A block from Hyde Park is Sydney Tower, which stands out above the city skyline. The observationn deck is at 260m; it's a rather unsettling feeling to be looking down on skyscrapers.

From the Tower, it's a short walk to the Pyrmont Bridge, which takes you across Darling Harbour to the National Maritime Museum. Josh went aboard the submarine Ostlow. I had tea and a scone, which in this case was a sweet hard biscuit with sweet butter and jelly. When the people at the next table left, the gulls swooped down on their table and grabbed french fries, until I shooed them off. We also took a look at a replica of HMB Endeavor, a display of Indigenous art dealing with rays and sharks and such, plus other exhibits I'll remember when I sort through the photos.

Josh still wanted Chinese food, so we set off for Chinatown; after dinner, we headd back to our hotel. There is a district between Liverpool St and William St where most of the shops and restaurants are open until 10pm; one we got outside that area, most things were closed--although to be fair, it is Sunday night. Finished a Charlie Stross book, Family Trade, and started The Farside Cannon.

Note: Next time I go on a vacation like this, get in training to spend all day walking.