Thursday, April 17, 2025

Sydney is a very full-on city. There always seems to be something happening – and I find that exhausting. So today, I went for a walk. To try to get away from the crowds, I chose the Royal Botanical Gardens. And I think I made the right decision. After leaving Circular Quay and the Opera House behind, the crowds thinned out and the greenery began. It was so peaceful walking through the mature trees.

My walk took me round the edge of Wahganmuggalee and out to the promontory Yurong (the Gadigal names for Farm Cove and Mrs Macquarie's Point) Then I cut back and stopped for an iced coffee.

Re-entering the crowds, I went back to the Rocks. I have had my eyes open for traditional crafts to take as reminders. I was browsing in the Rocks when I found a gallery with a range of what I was looking for. The staff were very helpful and understood what I was looking for. They had “tourist” boomerangs and didgeridoos, but behind those were the traditional ones. The one I bought is a hunting boomerang, designed to stay in the prey. They staff also played the didgeridoos, which was amazing.

So off for lunch (more kangaroo – it is like beef but tastier). After a lot of thinking and calculating, I went back to the shop and found a didgeridoo that I liked. They also arranged to ship it home for me. So, prepare for a lot of strange noises!

I was feeling a bit stressed, so I called into the Cathedral for a sit down and some prayer time. I had a long talk with David, one of the guides. Back to the hotel for a shower and clean shirt, then back to the Cathedral for the Maundy Thursday service, which was lovely.

Tomorrow I am leaving Sydney. I will be sorry and glad – sorry that I didn’t see more, but glad to leave its business behind.