The Opera House, the Bridge, the blimp et al by iandsmith
Okay, you're from overseas and I suppose it's a must see. I must admit I even go there every couple of years just for a look. However, there is a new ride you may not be aware of - it's called the Aussie Duck and it's based at The Rocks. It's a modern version of the old 'army ducks' as we called them. They are an amphibious vehicle and this one is, well, different. It costs about $55 Aus but you will never have an experience like it! I can also recommend the sailing craft (I've personally been on the 'Bounty' and the 'Windeward Bound') or most of the cruises. Another option is to catch the local ferries, especially to a North Shore destination like Taronga, and walk to the next ferry stop. Pack your lunch and have a lovely day in the sun.Another idea is to go up in a DC3, a plane dating back to World War II. They fly out of Bankstown and give you a great overview from a low height, aeronautically speaking that is.
There was a time when you could view the harbour from a lighter-than-air vehicle such as shown in my picture. Sadly, this is no longer available. You can, however walk up to the top of the Harbour Bridge with an escorted tour.And this is a part of the blimp story. You see, once upon a time there was a trophy called the Americas Cup. Something to do with yachting. At some ungodly hour in the morning Australians were awake to see the longest winning streak in sporting history end. Our yacht had beaten the Americans 4-3 after trailing 1-3 at one stage. The then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, uttered the famous words, "Any boss that doesn't let his employees have a day off is a bum" (or words to that effect). Could you imagine an American president saying that?
It was extraordinary and the man behind it all was named Alan Bond. Originally a Pom he had made his fame and fortune out here doing deals of extraordinary magnitude. One of his indulgences was the blimp you see here, another was porchasing "Sunflowers" by Van Gogh. Sadly for Alan, it all came crashing down and he ended up in jail. Turns out a lot of what he was doing was dodgy.
These days he's a free man again, legally bankrupt but still managing to be chauffeured around in a Rolls Royce.
The Americas Cup was returned when the Yanks thrashed us next time out. Only the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House remain the same. Enjoy.
