Day 26 Sydney harbor and skyline

We took a catamaran harbor cruise. It's an immense natural harbor, second only in size to Rio, with 140 miles of shore line all served by an inlet of less than a mile wide - Olympic swimmers could cross it in minutes! Has features that reminded me of Seattle, lots of ferries and float planes and suburban communities filling the sea side with high priced housing. Quite impressive also in that all manner of public venues are served by the water: parks, the zoo, the old fort, suburbs - the list seems endless; it's not just a tourist attraction but a living part of the city.

After lunch in a neighborhood called the Rocks, one of the first established in the city, with the first pub dating back to 1840's, we took an Opera House tour. Breathtaking in size and scope and in cost over run! Scheduled to be finished in 3 years for $7 million, it took 14 and cost $102 million. It makes our projects seem quite well planned and estimated. The saga of the process of designing and building it is too much for this space, but very interesting. It was a splendid accomplishment.

Then we went back to the hotel for a nap before mass at St. Mary's Cathedral. (Our feet/ legs/ backs are older than our minds/ desires). This was our first mass wholly in English since we left home. It felt like it was pre-Vatican with old music, bells, and no females assisting, but the priest gave a really nice tribute to 9/11, and they're hosting an interdenominational service tomorrow.

FYI – we are now 14 hours ahead of East Coast time.  Also, internet access not great, so pictures will follow…..eventually.