Now for our final destination on our whirlwind Sydney sightseeing trip - The Rocks, where the white settlement / invasion of Australia started in 1788. It soon became a slum and a rather dangerous place to live or visit. Many men were shanghaied or pressed into service on the ships that came to into port while drinking at one of the hundreds of pubs that serviced the area (that is, they were drugged or hit over the head while drinking and woke to find themselves on a sailing ship out at sea!)
IMG_7953 by becka_kate, on Flickr
IMG_7955 by becka_kate, on Flickr
It is also the home of the Fortune of War - the oldest pub in Australia!
IMG_7952 by becka_kate, on Flickr
Many of the original buildings of The Rocks have been demolished to make way for the building of the Harbour Bridge, expressways and other symbols of progress. Other parts were demolished as a part of public health measures during breakouts of the Bubonic Plague in the early 20th Century. Luckily, when developers tried to destroy the rest in the early 1970's public protests meant that the area was saved and preservation works started instead, meaning that The Rocks still includes lots of tiny little streets and alley ways full of beautiful old buildings and interesting little parks, rather than skyscrapers.
IMG_7942 by becka_kate, on Flickr
IMG_7944 by becka_kate, on Flickr
IMG_7947 by becka_kate, on Flickr
We were particularly fascinated by this little area formed by the foundations of some of the old houses that would have stood here a hundred or so years ago. We're not sure if its a park, or a part of one of the nearby restaurants, but it is certainly very cool!
IMG_7948 by becka_kate, on Flickr
IMG_7950 by becka_kate, on Flickr
IMG_7951 by becka_kate, on Flickr
It being a Sunday, we also did a little window shopping in the stalls of the Rocks Markets, where you will find art, books, food, clothes... pretty much anything is sold here every weekend.
IMG_7941 by becka_kate, on Flickr
So there you have it - the highlights of Sydney in one day! One very tired bear and one host with rather sore feet. Now to steal myself for the long trip to California.