First, I had to return the car, which I couldn't manage yesterday. It's a five-minute drive, so I should be able to make it before 10 a.m. But the parking meter at the parking garage wasn't working, so I called. Fifteen minutes later, I was outside for a few dollars instead of the $100 on the rate sign. Nicely finished.
This time, I did find the entrance to the parking garage, then carefully followed the rental company's instructions, which weren't entirely accurate. The parking garage is quite cramped, large, and deep; it's located beneath the massive World Square building complex. Anyway, seven (!) floors down, we found the specially reserved spaces for Avis rental cars.
Then we explored the city. First, we went to the Australia Museum, which also had a special LEGO exhibition. It was really well done: after the human era came the era of LEGO figures, who built small villages on the remains of human civilization.
The Australia Museum has a section dedicated to the original inhabitants of Australia, the 'First Nations People'. They were here first, with hundreds of tribes each having their own territory, languages, customs and laws, techniques for hunting, cooking, and making clothing. Throughout Australia, it is now recognized that others came here first. It is estimated that Australia has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years, until the arrival of colonists. Dutch explorers explored the south and west coasts as early as the 17th century, and the English arrived in 1780 in what is now Sydney.
And part of the museum was natural history.
Then I wandered around town, checking out the LEGO store, among other things.
Explored Sydney's CBD. Cathedral, war memorial, Hyde Park, Queen Victoria Building. Indeed, the English colonists named many things after home.
Gaze at streets lined with "De Merken" (high fashion, watches, and other glittering items). Beautiful window displays without prices, a security guard at the door, and not a soul in the store. A bit of a shame. We passed The Strand, an old shopping center, English-style, very beautiful.
We met up with Carmen in the evening. She still had classes until 5 p.m., and we agreed to go to the movies. Every Thursday there's a free open-air movie by the river. We picked up food beforehand so we could enjoy it there.
It was so nice to see Carmen again after such a long time. For her, it felt like yesterday, for us like a month (traveling along the east coast, haha).
The film was about an Aboriginal girl from a troubled family who rediscovered herself through a photo camp in the outback. A beautiful location, on a grassy field by the river, were dozens of cushions and picnic blankets. Boats sail by, the sun sets, and the film begins.
Back home, a 15-minute walk. Carmen is staying with us in the apartment for a few days. We can quickly go out together.
