Opera House and Botanical Gardens

Yesterday we began the day at the Art Museum of New South Wales where we enjoyed viewing some wonderful works by Australian artists. We had lunch there outdoors at their cafe. Around us while we ate were dozens of birds, most of which were unlike our birds at home. At one point a largish black and white bird (possibly a magpie) swooped in, grabbed a piece of Michael's sandwich while he was between bites!! Michael was a little startled to say the least. Shortly thereafter a beautiful, multi-colored parrot landed on the table and seemed not inclined to be shooed away.

After lunch we meandered our way through the Botanical Gardens heading for the Opera House. We could've spent hours in the gardens looking at all the trees, plants and flowers; reading each plaque or just sitting there enjoying the scenery! As we came nearer to the Opera House is was clear that a thunderstorm was rolling in. We met Amanda out front and slipped inside before the storm arrived. It was wonderful to see the Opera House with Amanda as she has such warm memories of seeing her uncle's operas performed there; and of playing there herself and later seeing her son perform there. It's an incredible place.

Amanda drove us back to North Sydney where we are staying. She and Michael set off to check out the N. Sydney Book Exchange and Michael wanted to find an ATM. My knee had taken another full day of walking and millions of stair steps, so I opted to sit it out. When they returned, Amanda and I went to dinner at a delightful Italian restaurant on the corner of the block.

The pictures: 1.The huge trunk of a kind of fig tree. There was a fence around it so you couldn't go near it. The sign said something about the tree dropping branches without warning. 2. A cool cactus 3. See those things hanging in the treetop? I think they are called flying foxes BUT they hang like bats, fly like bats, and look like GIANT bats. A bit unnerving, really. 4. The Opera House with storm clouds.