March 14 – Sydney

March 14, 2016 – Sydney
We started out today at 8am for a bus tour of Sydney. It was overcast and a 90% chance of showers. We had a few stops for “happy snaps” (photos) of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge and downtown Sydney. We stopped for 30 minutes at Bondi Beach. I put my feet in and the water felt cold. We could see a pod of dolphins just past the surfers.
Back to the city, we learned about how opals are mined and the different types. We saw the largest and also the most valuable. I purchased an Opal pendant and chain.
After lunch h we took a one hour harbor tour. By now the sun was out and we got much better pictures of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. When we got off the tour boat, we walked to the Sydney Opera House where we got a tour and learned about its history.
Finally got back to the hotel at 5:45 pm and I have 1 1/2 hours to shower and rest before dinner. It never rained during the day but it threatened a few times.
Tomorrow is a free day. Troy is taking some of us to hike across the Harbor Bridge. We are not doing the hike up the bridge. Several had been interested until we heard it costs $200+ .
Tomorrow is also our Australia Farewell Dinner.
While eating dinner tonight it finally rained.