Christmas and New Year's proved to be rather subdued for us this year. Though we had planned to be on a southern NSW beach, we stayed home to comply with the government's request that people not travel regionally. So the other three couples all joined us at our home for Christmas dinner.
It has been fun to see the differences between holidays "Down Under" and "overseas where it snows." Everywhere Santa looks more like an aged hippie. I mentioned to Don on our walk Christmas Eve that I hadn't seen many examples of why Christmas is actually celebrated-the real reason not just the make believe. And right then we passed a house with a painted nativity outside. But it was the only one.
We had planned to get together with the other couples again for New Year's Eve. Then, with Covid cases on the rise here, even home gatherings were limited to just 5 guests. We have a new couple serving here now from South Australia and we were all looking forward to being together and getting acquainted with Gail and Stephen Pollard. But no, it was not to be.
Part of the fun of getting to be in Sydney is to welcome in the New Year by seeing the incredible fireworks over the Harbour Bridge. Sadly, this year the entire area was cordoned off and no one without a government authorization form was allowed in. So again we were thwarted in our desire to experience the scene firsthand. Like millions of other Sydneysiders, I stayed up and watched the spectacle on television. Even then, it lasted for only 7 minutes unlike other years. It was still beautiful. My picture- from an online source! I would have loved to been on a boat on the water.
The holidays have been quiet in the offices too. So it was nice to get out and do a little reconnaissance around the Central Business District for an outing to take this week with the other couples. We started by checking out the Harbour Bridge walk. At 1149m, it takes about 15-30 minutes to walk across depending on how many times you stop to enjoy the view of the Harbour and Opera House. We also checked out the climb which we will definitely do before we return home!!
We returned to the gardens and ventured into the gift shop and the Calyx hoping to return next week to view all the exhibits. But even on our train ride through the 74 acre park, we enjoyed getting to view the different parts of the garden: the Lower Gardens, Middle Gardens, Palace Gardens, Bennelong Point, and Palm Grove Centre.
Koala and Cassowary living plant statues
Lily ponds
The Wollemi Pine Dinosaur Tree pictured here is not a true pine. But the fossil record shows it existed across Australia 200-100 million years ago. Hence, the term Dinosaur since it would have been present then. It was thought to be extinct until recently discovered in 1994 here in a national park in Australia. Currently much focus is on its survival and cultivation. It has been successfully clones so maybe I could plant one of my own. What a great Australian Christmas tree it would make.
Our final stop for the day was to check if the Government House is open to tourists and it was. Though we were here several months ago, the grounds were closed. We asked our questions of the guides and explained that we would be back with our friends. They however, insisted we come in anyway and take a quick glance around.
This is the home of the Queen's Representative-Governor of Australia as opposed to the Prime Minister or Premiers of each state. She is to review all bills from the Commonwealth for procedural accuracy, not agreement or amendments. We walked quickly through the rooms and then enjoyed the views from the verandah to the sea.
Back of the Government House looking toward the verandah
Our last photo op of the day was the giant Moreton Bay Fig tree on the lawns. Planted when the house was finished over 170 years ago, it is actually the only surviving one of a pair planted on either side of the front entrance.
A good day to be out and about this beautiful city.
