Day 1 in Sydney and I hardly left my apartment. I unpacked, begged the concierge for more clothes hangers, found the grocery store to get milk and cereal, went hunting for electrical more adapters (which may just be the most annoying thing about Sydney)...

ordered a hamburger (which came with beets instead of cheese), watched a movie and knitted a bit to stay awake until 10:30 (jet lag be gone).

Why didn't I leave my apartment? I needed to "nest" a little - feel at home before realizing how far away from home I am! So here's my temporary nest:

My "lounge" (living room isn't used here - you "live" in the entire apartment - makes sense).

My bedroom

Temporary Rose - So close, yet so far away.

My bathroom (1 of 2 actually).

Wise Sydney-ism: Press left is for "#1" (uses less water) or right is for "#2" (more powerful flush). Again, makes sense!

My little balcony. Darling Harbor is RIGHT around the corner. Too bad my view is of a building and not the water.

Little desk

Some required reading

Lots and lots of closet space

My kitchen with dishwasher & garbage disposal - woo hoo!

So it wasn't until yesterday that I even ventured up to the rooftop pool. The pool itself is a little disappointing because there's a ROOF OVER IT. Duh. That means its not a rooftop pool, people! Even if that roof is made of foggy glass! BUT As soon as I thought to complain, I saw this...

Sydney!

Pretty spectacular. This is Darling Harbour and I'm on the Pyrmont side (with Google offices) looking out on the Sydney side. Since my apartment is in Pyrmont it occurred to me - I've still not set foot on Sydney soil! Until today...

(yes, spelled the English way)

Day 2: I had an eventful day with my Aussie friend, Clea. Clea used to work with me at Google and now she works for Bing. We went and got our nails done in her neighborhood, Woolloomooloo.

This helps her remember how to spell it.

This is the view from her apartment:

(Kinda makes you feel like you have the city in your own backyard...which she does.)

And, similar to Sarah Palin, Clea can say "I can see Russel Crow from my house!" since he lives in the penthouse in this converted warehouse on the water.

I was careful not to walk out in front of cars today which was a feat in itself considering folks drive on the "wrong side" of the road here. Its very confusing for pedestrians! So confusing that they started painting "Look Right" on the sidewalks.

It helps, believe me!

I'm loving the terraces that line the streets. I'll be looking for one of these for my very own!

Cute terraces with balconies

Aussies take their balconies seriously!

Clea's dad had tea waiting along with some "meat pies" we returned to her apartment. He was eager to introduce me to an Australian favorite and I'm hooked! They taste kinda like pot pies but better!

Day 3: Today I went out on my own. I'd been in Sydney for 2 days and had not seen the Opera House or Harbour Bridge yet. That may be blasphemy. Its a bit of a walk from Pyrmont to "The Rocks" but here I go...

Bridge that connects Pyrmont and Sydney proper - its a nice walking bridge right over the harbor.

My hotel from the Sydney side of Darling Harbor.

The city has many forms of public transport(ation) and so far I've been too chicken to take any of them. My favorite so far is the Light Rail b/c it adds a nice architectural aspect to my photographs. :) Also, it zips right by your head!

I've noticed Sydney has a lot of blending of old & new, which I tend to like.

However, they take it a little far by building new buildings directly ON TOP of old buildings...

What's this? I knew I'd hit the jackpot when I saw little white tents sprouting up - an outdoor market!

Loads of cute artisans selling their wares.

Dresses...

jewelry made of legos (interesting),

touristy items...

Irreverent t-shirts:

(Google employees - this is for you!)

handmade pillow covers...

onsies (this one says "Does my bum look too big in this?")

and on...

and on.

And ll of this along my way to see the Harbour Bridge which is right around the corner. Drum roll...

Here it is:

You can walk on top of this (with a harness). I may try it on a day when its not 100 degrees!

Across the bay...Luna Park (Come be a lunatic at Luna Park).

Here's the famous Sydney Opera House...

(on the water)

The water gets pretty crowded!

And now, for some random observations:

• Their mailboxes are cuter than ours...

• Sydney is hot. Today it was 40 degrees C (100ish F). However, humidity is low, so it doesn't feel like North Carolina when its 100 degrees with 100% humidity - which is nice. But it was enough to drive me into a pub for a bottled water and some A/C.

• Sydney gets thunderstorms! I love thunderstorms. In the afternoon it may rain to cool the air a bit and it reminds me of home (good ol' NC).

• Some things are the same:

Apple Store (I even saw one of these on my trip to Sarajevo)

I so approve.

• Some things are "sort of" the same:

Hmmm... looks familiar (?)

• Some things are different:

Do you see what's happening here? Not only do people drive on the "wrong side" of the road, but they also WALK on the "wrong side" of the sidewalk. In the grocery store, they wheel their carts down the opposite side of the aisle. I tell you, its confusing.

"Happy Christmas"

Says a tropical bird... since when did that symbolize Christmas?

Aside: Speaking of birds, they have amazing birds! Look at this parrot, just hanging out in the tree. So colorful, beautiful and talkative.

They're apparently wild in Sydney.

He let me his picture and he didn't poop on me.

OK, enough observations for one day. I deserve a treat.

Some things never change!

And back home to rest before my first day at school (er, work).

Home, sweet home (for now). Pictures from Google Sydney tomorrow!