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Sydney's stunning streetscape is awash in a mixture of history, a booming economy, and plenty to see and do
As everyone knows the first boatload of English, er, visitors to Australia landed in Sydney Harbour in 1794, in chains. Over time settlers joined the convicts and the influx never stopped.
My first impression upon hitting the streets? Sydney’s a bit of old Blighty with a few more sushi shops thrown in. The elevators are called lifts, cricket is a major sport and cars drive on the left. Don’t worry, the words “Look to Your Right” are etched into every intersection to remind hapless tourists of oncoming traffic. I survived Sydney and I never lost a limb.
Marvel in Sydney's stunning streetscape
The country is awash in minerals, oil and uranium. The economy is booming and that means Canadians will find it a little pricey as Aussies flaunt their new found wealth.
You can see it in the city’s stunning streetscape; Victorian gems stand cheek-by-jowl with modern towers. Sydney makes a point of preserving its heritage buildings and the result is a mix of old and new connected by a sophisticated network of subways, roads and ferries plunked down in one of the most beautiful locations in the world.
Legend has it that back in the early 1900s Sydney and Melbourne and couldn’t agree on which would become the capital city so the government of the day built one from scratch – Canberra – between the two. Whether fact or fable, it pretty much sums up how Sydney regards itself - vibrant, self-confident and just a wee bit cocky.
Click through for your guide to an urban Australian adventure.
Sydney Getaway Guide to an Urban Aussie Adventure
Vancouver writer John Thomson specializes in architectural issues, urban design and travel. He writes for broadcast, print and the Web.
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