If I were to pick a single hotel in Sydney as a favourite (taking cost into account) The Grace Hotel would be it. Continue reading “The Grace Hotel – Great Location”
As Daylight Fades the ‘Craic’ Begins
When I am in Sydney for work, or when I can otherwise afford it, I like to stay at the Grace Hotel, conveniently located in the centre of the city.
On the ground floor of the Grace, through a totally separate business with separate street access as well, is P.J O’Brien’s Irish Pub. Continue reading “As Daylight Fades the ‘Craic’ Begins”
The Museum Of Sydney
The primary item of interest related to the Museum of Sydney, and you don’t have to pay the exorbitant $10 entry fee (you might want to consider a Museum Pass – see later) to appreciate it, is that it is built over and around the remains of Australia’s first Government House. Continue reading “The Museum Of Sydney”
The Post Master General’s Flirtatious Maid
When I admired the former General Post Office (GPO) spandrels, or rather the adornments thereon, I had never heard of a spandrel – though, as it turns out, I have seen and admired many. Lest my reader be as ignorant as I in architectural nomenclature, a spandrel is the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure.
When admiring the former GPO building do make your way around to the Pitt Street side of the building and look up at the spandrels. Continue reading “The Post Master General’s Flirtatious Maid”
The General Post Office (Former)
While no longer a post office, the exterior of this building, thankfully, retains its classical elegance and beauty. The interior which now, in the main, comprises the lobby, bars and restaurants of the Westin Sydney Hotel, retains a significant number of architectural features of the former post office but it’s just not the same and to me more resembles the recreated architecture of a Las Vegas casino than the original building interior that it actually was. That said, what’s here is better than nothing, and I do especially like that part of the original ceiling which remains accessible to pubic view as depicted in picture four attached. Continue reading “The General Post Office (Former)”
Culwulla Chambers – Sydney’s First Skyscraper?
Dwarfed by high-rises and skyscrapers on all sides is the Culwulla Chambers – Sydney’s first ‘skyscraper’. I draw it to your attention as otherwise you would surely miss it. Continue reading “Culwulla Chambers – Sydney’s First Skyscraper?”
Bavarian Bier Cafe: “A Hearty Bavarian Meal”
Earlier in the evening, around dusk, I had passed by the Bavarian Bier Café en route back to my hotel, about 50 metres away. It looked completely dead and very dark inside. Coming out a little later looking for somewhere to have dinner I saw that the doors were still open so I had a look at the menu on display and a cracking pork belly dish appealed to me. Continue reading “Bavarian Bier Cafe: “A Hearty Bavarian Meal””
The Eiffel Tower – Yes it’s True!
A little diversion especially for my European reader.
While overseas, Australians are fantastic ambassadors for their country and, indeed as some will know, we used to have our very own Cultural Attaché to the Court of St James in London – in the form of Sir Les Patterson (aka Barry Humphries of Dame Edna Everage fame). As an aside, I was aghast when I saw Sir Les referred to as ‘an obese, lecherous, offensive, farting, belching, nose-picking figure of Rabelaisian excess’ on Wikipedia. I can only surmise that this was written by an uncultured European! Continue reading “The Eiffel Tower – Yes it’s True!”
Athena in Barrack Street
Besides statues of Australian (aka British) Royals (plus their pets – a dog called Islay (separate review)) and late 19th century English males, who played key roles in the establishment of the colony of New South Wales and modern day Australia, there is not much in the way of statutory adorning the streets of Sydney.
One exception to this is this statue of Athena in Barrack Street walkway, just off Martin Place. Continue reading “Athena in Barrack Street”
Forgotten Songs
Tucked away in Angel Place, this is one of my favourite pieces of artwork in Sydney.
Like any big city, you are unlikely to hear many bird calls as you walk around the city though opportunistic white ibis and sulphur crested cockatoos, as well as introduced species like pigeons and mynahs, can be seen here and there. Go to Angel Place and you are in for a pleasant surprise. Continue reading “Forgotten Songs”
The Rambling Wombat 