The head of the program organized a scavenger hunt around the city called "Drop Bear Cup," which was meant to help us get familiar with the area and transportation system. We chose our teammates and, at 9:30 am, began the race. We started down George Street - a popular, busy street in Sydney much like Commonwealth Avenue is to Boston. One of the first destinations on the sheet was the Queen Victoria Building, a shopping center from the late 19th century located in the Central Business District (CBD). Essentially, it's a mall...but it looks more like a palace.
...I wonder what they'd think of American malls.
We ventured into an area of Sydney called The Rocks, which was really cute and had some outdoor markets and things. We had to pass by all of it so quickly because of the race's time constraint, unfortunately. When we reached the harbor, I decided I had had enough. I knew the activity was meant for us to learn about the area, but I felt like I was missing out on places I really wanted to see. I decided to back out and headed home alone, but not before snapping a picture of the Harbor Bridge:
I probably should've felt afraid of venturing back alone - the Harbor has to be at least forty minutes away from my apartment, and I was unsure of the route home. But I didn't feel worried at all; something about the city and its kind-hearted people made me feel safe and I was actually thrilled to be able to explore on my own. I made my way back to George Street and wandered through it, stopping into all of the places I had passed and made mental notes to return to. It felt great to not have to rush and stress...I could finally meander aimlessly and observe everything.
When I got nearer to my apartment, I made a pitstop at Paddy's in Haymarket. Just outside of the building, there was a celebration for what I assume is Chinese New Year.
I made it home after hours of walking feeling pleased and exhausted. Every day in Sydney is better than the last.
No comments:
Post a Comment