Gisi in Sydney

Darling that’s just how it goes
It’s one door open, one door closed
It’s nothing tragic in the end

So go ahead, and say goodbye
Cause there’s an empire in my mind
And I can build it all again

It’s the crying that reminds us, we’re alive
It’s the cracks that let the light in, sometimes
I can see the diamonds in the dust
There’s beauty in the ruins of us

Ruins. Ashley Parks (from Emily in Paris)

Ok. I admit it. I’m addicted. We all have that one thing we can’t get enough of even though we know it’s not good for us. Wine, chocolate, avocado toast (though I’m almost over it). You name it. For me, it’s binge-watching Netflix shows. I used to go out or read. Now I just fall into bed and stare at my laptop. Pretty sad.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s not just any Netflix show. I am addicted to watching Emily in Paris, for goodness sake! There, I said it. The story of an American college graduate in her late twenties with a Master’s degree in communication who’s from Chicago and moves to Paris for an unexpected job opportunity. Yes, the stereotypical story of the American touristy experience in Paris with all its clichés and made-for-Instagram moments. With the main character wearing so many new outfits every day, I wonder how she can afford her daily baguette et vin. Why am I wearing the same old pair of jeans every day and still only eating avocado toast (I told you I was a bit addicted to it)? The show where the star snaps the perfect selfie wherever she goes. I wish I could say the same about my selfie shots of Gisi in Sydney.

When pondering whether to continue writing this blog, one of my most loyal readers (one of the 50! ), asked me if I could write something about Sydney, the city. And I thought, sure – why not! If Emily can do Paris, I sure can come up with a little write-up of this beautiful city, though my impressions might end up being just as touristy and cliché as the ones provided by dear Em. With a similar lack of diversity and limited exploration of different neighbourhoods as shown in the series. After all, Sydney is not just The Opera House or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But it’s a start.

So why not start with the Sydney Harbour Bridge? I have crossed it by bus, car, and on foot. I’ve run it, walked it, and taken a boat underneath it. I see it every time I return from an overseas trip, and I have to say, my heart still sings whenever I see it again. To me, it is one of the prettiest sights I have seen in any city in the world. The combination of blue sparkling water, rocky green shores, sandstone brown buildings, the iconic Sydney Opera House, with a modest skyline behind just works for me. And I love the bridge itself: The simple but striking outline of an arch and four pylons has made the Sydney Harbour Bridge one of the most recognisable bridges in the world. Built about one hundred years ago, it is still the tallest steel arch bridge in the world with an impressive height of 134 metres from top to water level. Not the longest bridge, only number 10 in the world. Once up on the walkway, it’s a gentle 1.4km stroll across the iconic bridge. A beautiful walk with a truly magnificent view over the harbour, Opera House, and eastern suburbs. Beautiful…unless you are doing it with a bunch of six-year olds, of course!

Wednesday morning, 9am. Two school buses packed with children were on their way to Milsons Point on Sydney’s North Shore. The students had been learning about buildings and structures, and now it was time to explore one in real life. One group had gone to the Lighthouse at Palm Beach, while these two groups were going to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Their destination was Government House in the Botanical Gardens – not even two hundred years old, which makes the European in me smile. Yet, it’s as close as it gets to an old building here in Sydney. At least it looks a bit like a castle!

After crossing the bridge, two-by-two and still full of early-morning energy, our group veered off to the right to make our way up to Observatory Hill. A well-known spot for watching the sunset over the harbour, this park was ideal for our intentions: to get a good look at the entire Sydney Harbour Bridge and to take some time to draw it architect-style. Plus, we had several snacks, a few trips to the public toilet, a game of tag in the park, and plenty of time spent just harbour-gazing and letting the world go by.

The walk back across the bridge was, as you can imagine, a little slower and required a bit more coaxing, but eventually we made it. Bye bye to The Rocks and Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Harbour with its ferry boats and sailboats and big gigantic cruise ships waiting in the docks. One child suggested taking said cruise ship one day for our school excursion – I am not sure the School Management will go for it, but hey, you can only try. We walked, schlepped, and complained our way across, back to Milsons Point with Luna Park not far away, the purple carpet of Lavender Bay in the distance, the cafes, parks, and grassy areas in the shadow of the bridge for us to rest in until it was time to return to school.

A tiny part of Sydney, a huge trip for little people. “Today we learned NOTHING!” one of the students proclaimed, with a bit of satisfaction in his voice. I dare to disagree. I believe today we learned a whole lot. And if only it was that there is so much more to explore in this great city. Minus the kids though. Only Gisi in the City! Cheers!