Fractal Blog

Having got the move out of the way (as in, having dumped our bags in the new flat) we determined to get as much out of Australia Day as possible. It's a lovely, sunny, summer day, about 30C, and most of the New South Wales population seems to have descended on Sydney. The ferries are packed and people are lining the Opera House Quay shoulder to shoulder, five-deep. Since the quay faces North there is no shade. This air display entertained us while waiting for a (very late) ferry.

We're all waiting for the Tall Ships Race, from Taronga Zoo to the Harbour Bridge. These are the four historic sailing boats that normally parade around the harbour from time to time, usually under power with maybe a couple of sails for decoration. This time they have all sails up. Meanwhile, any number of smaller, private boats go past the quay, the not-entirely-sober crews shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" or "Happy Australia Day" at the spectators.

It's all very good-natured, if rather loud and boisterous. Australia flags are everywhere. There is a best-dressed boat competition, as you probably guessed from some of the pictures accompanying this entry.

Naturally it is everyone's patriotic duty to consume Australian beer on Australia Day so we walked to our usual haunt, the James Squire pub on Darling Harbour. That, too, was packed with a diverse crowd, being friendly and having a good time.

Since our flat was still entirely devoid of the items required to have a meal in it (crockery, cutlery, saucepans, chairs, tables) we trotted up the hill into Neutral Bay for an evening meal in our local. Pizza in the courtyard was just the thing to finish the day with.