Friday, December 30, 2016 | Language: English | Currency: Australian Dollar | Population = 5.25 million

Every time we sail into a new city, it is exciting. But when it is a “sail-in” city, it is exhilarating. To date I can count Venice, Montenegro, Stockholm, and now Sidney, as iconic ports that I have sailed into.

Sydney Harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (part of the South Pacific Ocean) and is one of the largest harbors in the world. As we approached the center of the harbor, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge became visible and I knew that vision would be unforgettable.

The Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s most well-known and instantly recognizable live music venues. After 15 years of construction, it was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, where crowds of millions attended. The $80 million structure, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, was funded by the profits of the Opera House Lotteries. Famous for its geometric roof shells, the structure contains several large auditoriums and presents an average of 3,000 events a year to an estimated two million people.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, nicknamed “the coathanger” because of the shape of its design, carries road, rail and pedestrian traffic. Opened in 1932, it is just over 1,100 yards long and is one of the tallest bridges in the world. Several planes have successfully flown under the bridge, including a group of 24 Australian Air Force planes. That I would have liked to have seen.

Once we were under the bridge we spotted Luna Park, an amusement park built in 1935. It was described to me as the Australian version of Coney Island. Looking forward to exploring Sydney, Australia’s largest city.