Friday – November 16, 2018
People told us that Australian weather was unpredictable and it changes quickly, so I carried an umbrella & rain jacket in my daypack. This morning was a lovely 68 degrees with large puffy clouds rolling against a bright blue sky. We really like Sydney and are having fun exploring. We’re gradually working down our list of “Things to Do in Sydney.”
We passed Sydney’s Public Library:
We walked through the Royal Botanical Gardens. I love botanical gardens and I could spend many days exploring the beautifully landscaped scenery and reading the signs that identify Australian plants and trees. This goes back to my youth in the Bronx because my grandparents lived within walking distance of the N.Y. Botanical Gardens. My brother and I spent many summer days wandering around the Gardens, admiring beautiful native and non-native trees and plants.
A gorgeous Banyan tree:
Australia has an incredible diversity of unusual vegetation.
This was the entrance to a special exhibit of carnivorous plants. It was called, “Plants That Bite!”
On the other side of the Botanical Gardens is the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This is Sydney’s major art museum with exhibits from around the world, including Aboriginal art.
Neither the Botanical Gardens or the Art Gallery charged an admittance fee. All public museums in Sydney were free, but sometimes there was a charge to see special exhibits.
The exterior of the Gallery was neo-classic Australian sandstone, but the interior of the building was quite modern. Contemporary art was displayed next to classic works.
It was a treat to see Aboriginal art and learn that recognition was given to the artists.
We spent several hours exploring the Art Gallery and saw a variety of artistic works.
On our way out of the Gallery, we saw a pair of colorful birds perched on a wire. They’re native to the state of New South Wales and the city of Sydney.
