We woke up to pouring rain. Thank heavens the concierge was able to change our bridge climb to tomorrow. Thought it might be best to stay inside for a while. Since we are doing our Aboriginal tour and The Rocks tomorrow. We took the hop on and off bus to Darling Harbor and entered the largest Imax theater in the world for two back to back films. The first was D-Day: Normandy 1944, narrated by Tom Brokaw. It was an interesting history of WWII focusing on the facts and tactics behind the day that changed the direction of the war and was the beginning of the end of WWII. It gives you more an idea of how much went into the attack, from the shear number of people, ships and trucks and bombers to the mind-blowing numbers of those that sacrificed their lives in the attack from both sides. It was fascinating the tactical plan that was created, how much went into that attack and what a coordinated allied effort it was and how essential it's success was. I am so grateful for the brilliant tacticians, the brave soldiers, the French Resistance, and all those that were a part of this battle, sealing their commitment to the cause of freedom with their lives, for most of them.
The next film was Unseen Wonders. It was a fascinating film showing things we can't see because they are moving too fast, or too slow or are too small. They show how with modern technology we can look through microscopes and with machines that can read gamma rays, and other rays we can see things we could never see before and see and now manipulate the molecules of a cell. If you were a germaphobe...Jess ;) you would be freaked out how many things are floating in the air, on our skin, in our hair...yikes! With modern technology and advanced science, what we are learning from seeing things and studying insects and organisms we couldn't see before we can learn things that can change our health, what we are able to do,....it was exciting. Hope Sam will be a scientist one day!
Following the films we caught the a train and a bus to the Wildlife Park about an hour or so out of the city. We felt pretty proud of ourselves that we navigated their train and bus system without a hitch. After the Kiwi park in Queenstown our expectations were low, but thank heavens we were pleasantly surprised and the Wildlife Park was awesome with hands on exhibits and we were able to walk into several animal enclosures like at our favorite park The World of Birds in South Africa. The whole park was made up of birds, reptiles and animals indigenous to Australia. We were able to get up close and personal with Koalas, which we were able to pet, kangaroos and wallabies that we were able to feed and could lean into the wallaby and wombat enclosures and several others. We watched the wild dogs Dingos be fed day old chicks and eggs and saw the most interesting Ant Eater like creature that looks like a mix between an ant eater and a porcupine.
We loved exploring and seeing all the interesting birds too and happy to see our favorite Cassowary- since we are in it's home country now. We also loved seeing the Cuckaburro with blue wings. So beautiful and such a large bill. There was a full bore deluge while we were at the park and we happened to be in the Kangaroo enclosure and the kangaroos went wild when it started coming down, they didn't like the rain. Sam, I and about 8 kangaroos ended up hiding under a covered area, which was so funny. They were like our friends, all trying to hid out from the rain together. After a few hours at the park we thankfully walked out to find the bus stop and almost immediately the bus pulled up and then dropped us off several stops later at the train, which immediately came. We had great luck all the way back to the hotel with the trains as well.
We made a quick turnaround at the hotel when it began really raining hard again. After showing and getting into some fresh and nicer clothes, we made our way to the Opera House. Right as we left it had cleared up, like there was sun shining. It was so lovely as we walked along the Harbor and enjoyed the sun and views, it was like a whole new city. We came to see the Magic Flute opera in the Opera House's main Concert Hall. We enjoyed a cool drink out on the balcony before the show started. We were given great seats by the hotel through a connection they had. They were perfect about 6 rows back in the middle. The show was so entertaining, music was great, vocalists were professional, great and interesting sets and overall it was a top notch peformance and Sam enjoyed it too. His first real opera was at the Sydney Opera house :)
Following the show we walked along the waters edge and ordered at an outside restaurnat overlooking the harbor, the bridge, the well lit amusement across the river and of course the Opera House. What a spectacular evening with postcard views.
The next film was Unseen Wonders. It was a fascinating film showing things we can't see because they are moving too fast, or too slow or are too small. They show how with modern technology we can look through microscopes and with machines that can read gamma rays, and other rays we can see things we could never see before and see and now manipulate the molecules of a cell. If you were a germaphobe...Jess ;) you would be freaked out how many things are floating in the air, on our skin, in our hair...yikes! With modern technology and advanced science, what we are learning from seeing things and studying insects and organisms we couldn't see before we can learn things that can change our health, what we are able to do,....it was exciting. Hope Sam will be a scientist one day!
Following the films we caught the a train and a bus to the Wildlife Park about an hour or so out of the city. We felt pretty proud of ourselves that we navigated their train and bus system without a hitch. After the Kiwi park in Queenstown our expectations were low, but thank heavens we were pleasantly surprised and the Wildlife Park was awesome with hands on exhibits and we were able to walk into several animal enclosures like at our favorite park The World of Birds in South Africa. The whole park was made up of birds, reptiles and animals indigenous to Australia. We were able to get up close and personal with Koalas, which we were able to pet, kangaroos and wallabies that we were able to feed and could lean into the wallaby and wombat enclosures and several others. We watched the wild dogs Dingos be fed day old chicks and eggs and saw the most interesting Ant Eater like creature that looks like a mix between an ant eater and a porcupine.
We loved exploring and seeing all the interesting birds too and happy to see our favorite Cassowary- since we are in it's home country now. We also loved seeing the Cuckaburro with blue wings. So beautiful and such a large bill. There was a full bore deluge while we were at the park and we happened to be in the Kangaroo enclosure and the kangaroos went wild when it started coming down, they didn't like the rain. Sam, I and about 8 kangaroos ended up hiding under a covered area, which was so funny. They were like our friends, all trying to hid out from the rain together. After a few hours at the park we thankfully walked out to find the bus stop and almost immediately the bus pulled up and then dropped us off several stops later at the train, which immediately came. We had great luck all the way back to the hotel with the trains as well.
We made a quick turnaround at the hotel when it began really raining hard again. After showing and getting into some fresh and nicer clothes, we made our way to the Opera House. Right as we left it had cleared up, like there was sun shining. It was so lovely as we walked along the Harbor and enjoyed the sun and views, it was like a whole new city. We came to see the Magic Flute opera in the Opera House's main Concert Hall. We enjoyed a cool drink out on the balcony before the show started. We were given great seats by the hotel through a connection they had. They were perfect about 6 rows back in the middle. The show was so entertaining, music was great, vocalists were professional, great and interesting sets and overall it was a top notch peformance and Sam enjoyed it too. His first real opera was at the Sydney Opera house :)
Following the show we walked along the waters edge and ordered at an outside restaurnat overlooking the harbor, the bridge, the well lit amusement across the river and of course the Opera House. What a spectacular evening with postcard views.
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