It was just a lazy day today as we didn’t want to venture 
too far,so we redid some walks that we had done before and a couple of new ones. After breakfast we strolled up the hill at the back of the hotel to the Old Observatory, part of the Powerhouse museum. Although we didn’t go into the building itself the bandstand gave views over both Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. 
Like several of the days we have been in Sydney the early morning weather didn’t look too good but as always it just got better as the morning went on.Coming down from the Observatory we walked along the quay to the Opera House, where for the first time we walked along the lower concourse. All along the quayside are brass plaques set into the pavement commemorating great authors who have an Australian association. Many of these I have heard of like Barry Humphries, Germaine Greer and Clive James, but many I haven’t, also some of the authors such as D H Lawrence seem to have a rather slim linkage to this country.
Everywhere one walks in this area you get a view of the bridge and I don’t know if it’s the most photographed structure in 
the world but it must be in the top ten.(Editors note:- Actually checking on internet it’s probably not- The Eiffel Tower is number 1 apparently!!!) It is an impressive structure from whichever way you look at it but it seems to have been built just like a giant Meccano set. Just look at the size of these nuts.
Around the Rocks area there are a number of sculptures to celebrate the history of the area, one of the most striking of which is adjacent to our hotel. This shows the three groups of earliest residents of the area , families, soldiers and convicts. 
Around the corner there is a more modern contribution to the Art in the community project.
Sydney has been a great place to visit with the highlight of the trip being the visit to the Blue Mountains, however the general buzz around circular quay and the Rocks has been brilliant. Overall we couldn’t have wished for a better place to stay. In the eight days that we have spent here we have seen most everything that was on our list so next time it will have to be Melbourne or Perth.
Next stop Hong Kong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!