I’m sitting next to one of our three picture windows overlooking the Sydney Harbour as I compose this post. There are cruise boats, sail boats and yellow and green passenger ferries traveling back and forth between stops. Having grown up using public transportation throughout Pittsburgh, I am smitten with the ferries here. No stress, short wait times and never stuffed in like sausages.  Of course, since the ferries pass right by our bedroom window multiple times a day, I’ve learned to dress appropriately.

We are staying in the Kirribilli region of North Sydney, about 100 steps or less from the prime minister’s second home. There are palm trees, flocks of birds I can’t identify, and the stem of a plant that has risen four feet in the air with a huge pink flower on which several birds like to congregate. An Italian cat lives next door and when she wishes to visit, we can’t resist suggesting she try some espresso.

We can easily walk to the center of town, on the edge of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Coffee bars and sour dough bread shops proliferate. Though it’s late winter, it’s warm enough for outside dining and most restaurants provide patrons with blankets. It’s incredibly clean  – no graffiti or untethered trash. Plenty of brush turkeys prowl the sidewalks looking for scraps.

Unlike San Francisco, which left a bad taste in my mouth given all the disarray , driverless vehicles and people screaming uncontrollably, Sydney is refreshing.  Several school-aged children pass us; girls in royal blue dresses and white brimmed hats and boys wearing grey three piece suits (with either shorts or slacks), white pressed shirts and ties.

After arriving at the Sydney airport and losing a day due to the time difference, our luggage was also missing. Apparently several suitcases were pulled from our flight because of weight restrictions.  Though United offered $2500 in ticket credits, not enough passengers (including us)took them up on the offer to change plans and take a later flight. Two days later, our bags arrived in Southern Australia and then had to be flown back to Sydney.

The main reason why we are exploring Australia at this time of year is because our daughter, Destyni, landed a spot in the Sydney Marathon.  We also plan to visit my second cousins who live closer to Melbourne, say adieu to our daughter and put on our backpacks for a few weeks walk about.

Our first stop after renting a car, Pat named the beast because of it’s size, was the Taronga Zoo.  For hours, we we observed kangaroos, koalas, and a Tasmanian Devil. The zoo offers a wildlife retreat for those interested in spending time with hundreds of species of birds.

After a restless evening, we were ready to take on Sydney. Our apartment is two blocks from one of the passenger ferries and in 10 minutes we were in the city. We walked into the visitor center which also hosts one of the city’s libraries, located in the Customs House. Unlike most libraries it was extremely noisy  which we learned was because of the restaurant on the sixth floor. Though we were far from dressed for the venue, eventually we secured a reservation and we were seated overlooking the harbour. Our waiter answered our many questions about the menu while taking each of the white cloth napkins next to our plates and placing them on our laps.  Since then, we’ve discovered doing so is customary.

After a shared breakfast the next morning at a Moroccan cafe, we caught a different passenger ferry to the convention center, for the marathon registration. Every single one of the 30,000 marathoners converged there at the same time, creating a frenzy. Later Destyni and I found our way to the Shangri-la hotel for high tea, on the 36th floor, overlooking the exquisite harbour, while Pat entertained himself walking through the Barangaroo Reserve and sipping brews in some local pubs.

Friday was the day I was the most anxious about – the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.  It was,I can now say,having survived it, everything it promised to be and more. The system is of preparation and climbing is like a well -oiled machine. First we were each breathalyzed. If one doesn’t pass, they cannot take the climb. After a round of introductions, we were handed grey jumpsuits to put on.  Security procedures were next and then we were escorted into a large room equipped with harnesses. We were taught how to step into them, tighten them and then under our leader, Mitch’s tutelage, we practiced climbing forward and backward on metal ladders with our harnesses.

Sunglasses , hats and hankies were strapped to our suits and then we each received a head set. Mitch introduced himself as an actor who likes climbing to the top of bridges. He led us under the span of the bridge on a cat walk as the harness hooks slid through multiple transition points. He never stopped chattering the whole time we were walking. Halfway across the cat walk, when I looked below me, I considered quitting but determined I better find my mojo. Finally, we arrived at the steep ladders, which we were required to climb, one person at a time. And then crawling up to the opening, I relaxed a bit. Mitch took photos  and shared stories about the bridge’s construction s we climbed farther up.

At the very top of the span, we posed for group photos and began our descent on the other side of the bridge.  Suddenly, the wind began whipping at a high speed and we all clung to the iron railings. When I arrived at the set of descending ladders, I mentioned to Mitch’s assistant that I was quite scared. She advised me to take my time stepping down backward, to slide to the left at the transition points and to spend no time thinking about it.  On our final walk once again across the catwalk, Mitch told the story of a harbour bridge construction worker who fell several feet into the water and saved his life by holding his nose beforehand.  Take that as my tip for the week. If you’re ever in a similar situation, seal your nasal passages.  The air pressure in the sinuses will increase, creating a barrier that water cannot easily overcome.

Tomorrow we will serve as Destyni’s support team for her marathon.

Shevonne and Pat