i always knew i was born to be an explorer

and this week has definitely been a week of exploration!  i walked to circular quay (where the sydney opera house is located) for the first time and, to my surprise, walked through the botanical gardens to get there.  the walk to get to circular quay is quite beautiful... i walk past old navy ships, along woolloomooloo bay (yes, that's really how you spell the name of the suburb/bay and yes, you pronounce it phonetically), up into the botanical gardens and from there, i can take one of many routes.  this week i did this walk three different times and saw three completely different parts of the botanical gardens which i hadn't explored before.  the walk is absolutely superb.

not only did i explore with the walk to circular quay, i also decided to take a sydney ferry for the first time.  only a short distance though.  i hopped on by the opera house and got off in darling harbour by the aquarium.  (it's a short distance and only a 20 min. walk probably, but i just felt like being on the water!)  the trip took about an hour and i was able to see a different view of the opera house, went under the bridge and past luna park.  the picture to the left, by the way, is of the entrance to luna park.  it's kind of creepy but i determined that it is the picture of the week.  luna park is the theme park in sydney.  it does not compare closely to six flags.  the tallest ride is the ferris wheel.  at the same time, i hope to make into luna park for a fun evening!  i love ferris wheels.... anyway, the ferry was  a nice ride (and didn't cost me anything as it is included with my weekly travel pass for the redline.)

what else did i explore... oh, i went into cadman's cottage which is the oldest building in sydney built in 1816 and used as the coxswain's barracks.  it was pretty cool.  nice and old and a piece of history.  i love this type of exploring... learning something about the past and appreciating what is left to tell the story.  and actually, in november i'm going to be taking part in an event in sydney called sydney open 08 and the city is opening 50 sites (both old and historical as well as new and contemporary architectural sites) for the public to explore on just the one day.  should be really interesting.

that just about wraps up my week... i wish i was going to my college's homecoming game this weekend... i'm a bit jealous of everyone who is going... but sydney is pretty cool too, i guess.  haha.  one evening this week i felt like i was back in america.  the us navy was in sydney for a few days and when i was out somewhere with liz, we found ourselves completely surrounded by american accents.  it was so strange and familiar and pretty cool.  they also played some r&b at the place which never happens because the aussies apparently love their dance techno-influenced music (which i have been growing to actually like, go figure).  the sailors' behaviors also screamed american... you have no idea.  oh, america.