{"id":356,"date":"2023-10-09T06:38:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T10:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.wordpress.com\/?p=356"},"modified":"2024-12-09T23:51:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T23:51:19","slug":"the-opera-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/09\/the-opera-house\/","title":{"rendered":"The Opera House"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Activity level: \ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modes of transportation: \ud83d\ude97\ud83d\udc5f\ud83d\udeeb\ud83d\ude8a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sydney here we come!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We grabbed our free breakfast at the hostel (a consolation prize for having to move rooms) and hopped in an Uber for the airport. Sarah woke up with \u201cfield trip energy\u201d because we booked a tour of the Sydney Opera House as well as a classical concert that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Landed in Sydney and ready to party.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We made our flight with time to spare (though, we pushed it a little). It was a little strange though: they never actually checked our IDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once in Sydney, we took the train and tram to Chinatown, where we had our hotel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We took the metro from the airport\u2014it was a cool double decker train.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We mentioned it was our honeymoon to the hotel staff so they upgraded us. The room was a bit unconventional with two different sleeping areas and a shower that had no separation from the toilet, but we didn\u2019t mind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We dropped off our bags and went for a burger, since we knew it would be the last time we had a chance for a month or two. Sarah was skeptical that Eric had found a good place, since it didn\u2019t look great from the surroundings (we were in a mall), but changed her mind when the food came. It was a great burger, with thick bacon and a truffle aioli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After, we put on our nice clothes and headed out on the tram to the Opera House. We were running a little late, and almost missed the start of the tour (and Sarah looked great). But they ended up holding for us for a minute as we ran to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eric looking cool in his tour head set<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, and led us through the architecture and controversies surrounding the construction. It took 16 years to build the structure, spanning multiple administration changes and changing political landscapes. The original architect, Jorn Utzen, a Danishman, was even refused payment unfairly by the government and fired half way through the project. When they started construction, they weren\u2019t even sure how to build the now-famous sails until Utzen had a breakthrough. Overall, construction went 10 times over budget, costing an estimated 2 billion dollars in todays money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Every inch of the opera house s was meticulously designed. It felt like being on the inside of an instrument.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, Utzen was eventually paid, though he was too old by the time the government apologized and never actually saw his creation in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The opera house overlooked the Sydney bridge. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So all this happened, and we talked a lot about Utzen on this tour. At the end, our tour guide said that Jorn Utzen\u2019s son was in town to give a talk on the building of the Opera House for the 50th anniversary that day. And it turned out that Utzen\u2019s son and grandson were actually on the tour with us (which was only about 20 people). Crazy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We couldn\u2019t find anyone to take our photos\u2014turned out they were clearing the plaza in preparation for protests that night. Luckily we were able to avoid the turmoil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the tour, on recommendation from the guide, we went to the box office for some last-minute tickets. They had some cheap standing room tickets left for Miss Saigon the next day, so we bought them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After that, we walked around the grounds outside, enjoying the spectacular harbor views and taking photos before security kicked us out, but we weren\u2019t sure why at the time. We went for a quick drink at the Opera Bar and then went over to our early reservations at a nearby French restaurant, Restaurant Hubert, which Sarah had found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCHEERS\u201d in an Aussie accent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Check out the Sydney skyline in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Neither Sarah nor Eric realized just how nice the restaurant was before stepping inside. The entryway felt like the entrance to a Disneyland ride, with descending steps into a dark basement with glass cases of aperitifs and French posters along the walls. Eric was getting more and more nervous about the prices as we went down, especially since Sarah said she hadn\u2019t looked at them before booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI was supposed to check prices? Whoops\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there were some delicious options that weren\u2019t too expensive. Sarah ordered a dry sauvignon blanc to go with our appetizer escargot, and Eric got an absinthe frappe. The waiter suggested the fish of the day, which we still can\u2019t identify, but it was a light and flaky butterflied filet. We also ordered a sirloin to split with a side of salad and \u201cpommes Anna\u201d. The food was incredible, partly due to the perfect cooking, and partly due to the sheer butter involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sarah was a little nervous after Eric ordered the escargot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Escargot? More like ESCAR-NO (jk it was delicious and tasted a very close to shellfish).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our waiter was excellent, and we talked about New Orleans (because there was a jazz band playing). They had visited on their honeymoon, and crazily enough, despite being half way around the world, we ended up talking about Snake and Jakes\u2014a beloved, but very dark Christmas themed dive bar in NOLA. They also loved the videos of our wedding and second line, which Sarah couldn\u2019t help but show them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best meal on the trip so far! Sarah still dreams about the pommes Anna (top left).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Somehow, we finished all the food and had to literally run out of the restaurant, extremely full, down the hill to the Sydney Opera House to catch our concert before the doors closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n