March 2, 2026

What a beautiful welcome to the city of Sydney.

Those who have cruised to Sydney know that the much-preferred docking location is at Circular Quay, right across from the Opera House. We couldn’t ask for a more ideal sail in as we saw the sunrise over the Opera House. I will share with you some photos later to show you how close our ship docked to put us right in the middle of all the action.

Sydney has the distinction in my mind of being one of the easiest cities in the world to visit. They speak English here. It’s as safe as any American city. Sure, they drive on the wrong side of the road, but they politely pause for pedestrians, at least in the touristy parts. And right now, the strong American dollar goes a long way.

Sydney is a city that is clothed in the arts (music, architecture, museums, sculpture) and the first building that greets you at the Circular Quay Pier is the Australian Museum of Contemporary Art. I was so pleased to see Australian school children gathered for a field trip visit to the museum.

Sydney has an outstanding transportation system with a tram (free for senior citizens) connecting all parts of the city. This is in additional to the outstanding very cost-efficient ferry systems that swiftly moves commuters from the suburbs into city central. The first stop for almost all visitors is the Queen Victoria Building, or QVB. I always love seeing who will sit down to play a tune at the baby grand piano. This is a great spot for a cup of flat white and a browse through a real newspaper. I’ve learned that in Australia a latte is served in a small drinking glass while a flat white comes in a cup and has a little more foam.

The “darling” of Sydney is Darling Harbor. This is the site where you get lost in the rhythms of Sydney and if you are a people watcher like me this is urban utopia. The sounds, the smells, and the ever-changing scenery can’t help but heighten your senses. Picture yourself in some of these photos and join me on your imaginary day in Sydney.

As we headed back to the ship we walked through The Rocks Park just 2 minutes from our ship. I saw a number of ibises foraging in the grass, and a noisy Miner startled me by dropping right in front, upside down. 

And as I promised, look how close our ship docked to all the action. Ideal location!

As we departed Sydney, we were left with the same striking images as this morning’s sunset as the sky darkened and our final nighttime departure.

And I wanted to share with you two members of our welcoming committee to Sydney. As I finished my morning devotional this cute couple landed on our balcony. Of all the cabins on our ship they landed on our balcony. More amazing, they stayed around long enough to have their photo taken.

Mere coincidence?

I don’t believe so.

Thanks for traveling with us.