Final Moments in Sydney...

Here’s some last looks at the dynamic view from our hotel room earlier in the week...

...and on our last night.

After dinner on our final night, we took the ferry back to Ashlynn’s apartment so she could pick some stuff up. No matter how many times I saw these views, I still loved it.

I finally had my chance to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge when we missed the bus back. I clearly hadn’t done my homework because although I had ruled out doing the tour up and over the bridge since it was very expensive, I missed going up to the lookout.

 At least I still got to see some amazing views.

The following morning, we had a great breakfast at an organic shop. I was very sad to leave Ashlynn. We had so much fun together. I was touched that she wished I could have stayed longer. I felt guilty about my ugly carbon footprint while chasing Ashlynn around the globe, but the time together was incredible.

Wonder why more airports and businesses don’t do this? I wasn’t looking forward to another long layover at Hong Kong Airport, but I managed to stay awake so I made my connection.

Sydney Harbour Bridge...

Designed and built by a British firm, this iconic steel bridge opened in 1932 to connect Sydney’s Central Business District with the North Shore.

It is the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world. In addition to cars, buses and trucks, trains, bikes and pedestrians traverse it daily. In 1992, the Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened to help offset the demands of increased traffic.

Little did I know when I took this photo that shows the Park Hyatt Sydney just in front of the bridge, that Ashlynn would end up walking a fashion show on the walkway in front of that hotel.

Sydney Opera House...

Not that I haven’t already posted a bunch of photos of this iconic building, but here’s a last few with some trivia as well.

One of the most recognizable buildings in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was designed by a Danish architect who quit the project in 1966, many years before it opened in 1973. Over two decades later, there was a reconciliation and the designer helped with remodeling of the interior. 

One evening we caught the very end of a light show shown on this side of the building, but my photos didn’t turn out.

Apparently, the multiple venues inside host 1,500 performances annually for a total of 1.2 million attendees.

Although we didn’t do a tour to be able to see inside, Ashlynn saw a DJ perform after I left. 

On the Way to Coogee...

While I enjoyed my walk the previous day, I could see why this was the popular one as it was 100% path with endless views with no long slogs up roads or neighborhoods to cut through.

It was nice that Ashlynn suggested we sit and appreciate our surroundings.

Having walked the previous week into Coogee Beach with Jane from the south, it was nice to approach the beach from the north.

Finished the walk with a selfie before having a drink and snack on the beach and then catching a bus downtown.

Surf’s Up...

We were shocked to see how far away from the beach some of these surfers were. 

I’m particularly pleased with this photo. 

When I caught a glimpse of a rainbow in the surf (something I’d never seen before), I became determined to capture some images.

Bronte Beach...

It’s hard to remember where one beach community ends and the next starts, but this is definitely Bronte Beach, which is an end point for many people walking from Bondi but was more like our halfway point.

Rather than the romantic notion that it was named after the Bronte sisters, it was actually named after an inspiring military figure.

Like most beach communities, it has an outdoor saltwater pool. 

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk...

Bondi is an Aboriginal word meaning “surf,” so it’s fitting that I caught a few photos of the surf as it hit the iconic Icebergs, the world’s only licensed winter swimming club.

While the private club was formed in 1929, the current clubhouse dates from 2002; it’s unclear from the website when these unheated pools filled with ocean water were built. Although the thought never crossed my mind, Ashlynn mentioned that she’d like to try swimming there, but never did. 

While Ashlynn had gone on this 3.75-mile (6K) walk before, she was happy to do it again because it was so beautiful.

Of course, she didn’t walk along with me on the normal path.

Nor did I follow her ducking under this rock to see what was on the other side.