Yawn. Just another Wednesday night in Australia. Ri-i-i-i-ght!!!
This is our last post from our stay in Sydney, although we will return for one day, several times, on our cruise around the east coast and on to New Zealand. We have really enjoyed the city and the people…very down-to-earth, friendly, genuine. Last night we took in a show at the Sydney Opera House, All You Need is Love, an all-Beatles production. If you ever attend, know that the dress code is casual-casual: shorts, t-shirts, etc. Sydney is a very informal city. Even for the Christmas concerts we attended, in the cathedral and in town hall, the dress was casual and beachy. At this concert, there were four featured singers; an orchestra of about 30 strings, brass, percussion, and woodwinds; four guitars; a sitar; piano; and a full drum kit. As you can imagine, with 30 Beatles songs, it was quite energetic, touching, nostalgic, and beautiful. It seemed that the audience sang along on almost every song, and of course, they pointed the microphone at the audience to sing endless rounds of Nah, nah, nah, nah-nah-nah-nah, nah-nah-nah-nah, Hey Jude. How amazing that music written over 50 years ago can have 2,000 people singing along and sharing music in common.
Several times, the performers mentioned what a thrill it was to be singing in the best concert venue on the planet. Situated on Sydney Harbour, with the bridge in the background, passenger ferries coming and going, and throngs of people at all times of the day and night, the Opera House seems to be the beating heart of Sydney. It is both a symbol and a reality. Inside, they have taken full advantage of all the harbour views. The night photos were taken around 11 pm, after the concert, and it was humming outside. Walking back to our hotel, about 15 minutes away, it felt safe, secure, and friendly. The streets were still crowded with people. We have loved being here in such a vibrant and lovely city. But tomorrow we start a 38-day cruise that ends in New Zealand, so we are excited about our next adventure.
