It was sunsets that taught me that beauty sometimes only lasts for a couple of moments, and it was sunrises that showed me that all it takes is patience to experience it all over again. -A.J. Lawless
In mid-May, I had the pleasure of visiting Sydney, Australia. The capital of New South Whales, and home to the beautiful Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House. I was briefly stopping through, with my cousin, Kate, en route to Indonesia. We really only had ONE full day to jam pack with as much sightseeing and food as possible. But like, mostly food.
Accommodation:
Kate and I wanted to stay within the confines of the city, whilst remaining slightly frugal. We settled on staying at the PARKROAYAL in Darling Harbour, which turned out to be an absolutely lovely accommodation. All props to Kate on this one because she did a lot of research trying to find us the best deal!
What I LOVED most about the PARKROYAL:
It was centered, snugly in the heart of Sydney’s Business District. Which meaaaaans, it’s about a hop, skip, and a shimmy from Darling Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House! It’s also walking distance from Chinatown, where we undoubtedly had one of our tastiest meals!
Places to go, food to eat:
Kate and I landed in Sydney a bit before noon. We couldn’t check in yet, as our room wasn’t quite ready. So we left our bags with the concierge, grabbed a map, and headed towards Darling Harbour.
There is a long strip of boardwalk that frames the waterfront, lined with restaurants and shopping. And let’s be real, what type of women would we be if we didn’t stop off for brunch and bloody marys?? We perused the outdoor menus, and settled on poached eggs benedict at a little spot, called Adria, that overlooked the water. The restaurant had beautiful plating, but their bloody marys tasted a bit more like fruit punch with a tomato kabab. Ya win some, ya lose some.
After brunch, we were able to check in and freshen up before venturing back out into the city. It’s amazing how good it feels to wash your face and throw on a fresh pair of clothes after being on a plane all morning. This little wrap dress from Lulu’s was the perfect piece to throw on! A one-piece, hassle free, super cute outfit?? Don’t mind if I do!
We window shopped as we strolled up George Street, headed for a trendy little district they call The Rocks. My cousin, Kate, is adorable. Super fashionable, always smells good (I steal my best perfumes from her), and one of the best galls to go day drinking with. Because why would we want to limit happy to only one hour?
The Russell Hotel, sits at the corner of George Street and Globe, harboring a stylish little bar within its confines. This chic little pub, also known as, The Push, was a perfect place to stop for dirty martinis and some good old fashioned people watching. I love boutique hotels and by the looks of the bar, I’d imagine the rest of the hotel was just as swanky. Not to mention, it’s centrally located. If anyone has ever stayed here, I’d love to hear what you thought!
We spent the late afternoon playing tourist and taking photos at the Circular Quay. The sun melted into the horizon, behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and offered a sight, I knew, could never be recreated. I love being with people who get just as excited as I do to watch something as simple as the sun set. Life was meant for moments like these.
I truly fell in love with Sydney that day. Not sure if it was the amazing Thai food we had on Sussex Street that evening, or the Mediterranean taxi driver, who kept making googly-eyes at me in the rear view mirror, while he played Michael Jacksons greatest hits? Between that and all the lovely accents, I was swooning by the time we had to leave. There was so much to see that one day just wouldn’t suffice. Which means, I’ll have to make my way back sometime in the future… once I win the lottery or learn to count cards in Vegas.