A Sunday in Sydney

Last Sunday morning, I began the day by walking to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, the local parish in Newtown. It looked sizable from walking by, but I had no idea what to expect of the church or community.

Interestingly enough, it was not much different from Astoria. Most people there were over the age of 70, some families started to come in at the end, and the entire service was in Greek. I later learned that it's one of the first Greek churches in Sydney, hence most of the attendees are likely founders, but it was definitely different. What was most impressive is that the whole congregation was full during Orthros, which I can't say I have ever seen before.

Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Newtown, New South Wales

The next stop for the day was the renowned Taronga Zoo, a Sydney staple that a coworker graciously got me a free ticket to see. The zoo is a ferry ride away with a beautiful view of the skyline, and a variety of animals and species that are specific to Australia and Africa. Koalas and kangaroos are the popular Australian animals, so I attended a session on koalas (their birth cycle is only 32 days vs 9 months for humans!) and got to basically stand a few feet away from the kangaroos. It's actually illegal to hold a koala bear in New South Wales (the largest state in Australia) because of how it interferes with the koalas' development. 

Skyline view from Taronga Zoo

Other animals of note at the zoo included imported deer, since they are not native to Australia, Tasmanian devils who could easily become extinct if the zoo preservation does not continue, and many types of rats. There are no squirrels here, but similar animals called gliders, as well as bats, replace the role that squirrels play in our lives. 

Hanging right next to the kangaroos

Already on the north side and with little hope for this week's weather (since I attract rain), my host and I took a bus through the North Shore to Manly Beach for dinner and Four Pines brewery over there. This side of town felt a lot more suburban than Bondi where I had been the day prior, with a clean promenade, thin beach strip and a lot more families around. Regardless, it was a cool experience to see the other side of beaches and where people tend to surf more. The ferry back had a beautiful view of the Sydney skyline, Opera House & Harbour Bridge in the evening, which was worth it alone. With just a few more days in Sydney until leaving, it was great to hit up so many spots in one day! 

The more suburban Manly Beach, Sydney