I suppose I may as well start with the flight from Auckland to Sydney. It was horrendous. Though I can’t go blaming the airline, because the airline isn’t to blame for it’s passengers, but lets just say that sitting behind a child that throws up enough to go through three sets of clothes and is ill enough for a nurse to come and check on him is not fun! We also had paramedics come on board at the end of the flight for someone else who had taken ill during the flight.
Arriving in Sydney and finding transport to our hotel was an absolute breeze. It’s something that Auckland really needs to get right. I’ve made the trip to Auckland airport many times but not enough that I’m familiar with the trip so when I do make it, even I get moments of wondering whether I’m going the right way, seeing as the route seems to meander through random suburban areas. Anyhow, a quick trip on the train and we were at our hotel, Hyde Park Inn, situated across the road from Hyde Park and a few blocks from Capitol Theatre and Chinatown. We had a studio apartment on the 11th floor and though the view was impressive, the amenities were a little less so. The establishment was four star rated yet the only complimentary items were in the form of an all-in-one squeezable bottle of soap/shampoo/conditioner afixed to the wall.
Finding a European restaurant within a few blocks of the hotel proved no mean feat. Although an ex-pat colleague tells me there were plenty around if we’d known where they were, we struggled to find anything that wasn’t Korean or Chinese. I was surprised that there wasn’t really many restaurants around the theatre, as you so often hear promotions for “dinner and a show” so I’m not sure where they’d send people for dinner!
Speaking of the show though, I have to say that Wicked the Musical really is phenomenal. Lucy Durack did a fantastic job of playing Glinda. If I was still in Australia I would probably go and see it again. It really was that good. Although I wish I could have seen it when Rob Guest played the part of the Wizard. As much as I’m sure Burt Newton is revered, I don’t really think he did the part as much justice as Mr Guest may have. I will have to give in to my own speculation on this point.
We also went on a Ghost Tour around the city, which I was really looking forward to. I was ready to be creeped out! It didn’t really pan out that way though and I found it a little try-hard. I didn’t really ever get spooked and the tour felt a little “detached”. Some of the places our “Ghost Host” was showing us were inside buildings that we couldn’t enter and having him say “it was that room – right there!” while shining his torch onto the outside of a building didn’t really have the same effect. I did get this pretty cool photo, though.
After visiting Manly and Bondi Beach, wandering around Paddy’s Market, the Botanical Gardens, Opera House and harbor bridge, riding the monorail and attending the show and Ghost Tour, I have to say that I think Sydney was a one-time-only thing for me. I’m sure if I got offered a free trip I wouldn’t say no but it unfortunately lived up to my preconceptions of it being a dirty, noisey place. The weather was Sydney’s saving grace – but then I love the heat! But, at least now I can say I have “been there and done that”. Please don’t be discouraged by my account – different strokes for different folks as they say!