Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Breakin' it Down at the Opera House

One of the best parts of living in Sydney is being able to go to the Sydney Opera House whenever we damn well please. We are incredibly lucky to have the bay and it's pretty sailboats bobbing in it, directly behind our house. Throughout the day we can see the catamaran style ferry as it approaches the wharf; she always greets us with a couple of loud, short beeps-- kind of annoying when the kids are napping, but an otherwise enjoyable reminder of our amazing location.

At least once a month we take the ferry, do our thing at the Opera House, hop on the little train for a ride through the Royal Botanic Gardens (which is directly behind The Opera House), then ferry ourselves home.

I know a lot of expats and expat hopefuls read my blog, so this is for you-- and anyone else who just wants to know what kind of stuff goes down in Sydney.

This is Luna Park as seen from in front of The Opera House:

Luna Park from Circular Quay by you.

This is how we hang with the big dogs waitin' for our show at The Opera House to be seated:

Waiting for our show at The Opera House by you.

There are several theatres at The Opera House. A few weeks ago in The Studio theatre, we saw The Casio Brothers. It was just like being at a Swedish Beastie Boys concert, minus the Brass Monkey, that funky Monkey - Brass Monkey - junkie, that funky Monkey.

Cassio Brothers by you.
Oh yeah baby, Swedish rap music for children, wishin' you had some?
What up dawg?

This past weekend there was a free activity in the Forecourt of the Opera House. It was called We Built This City. "Construction workers" doled out cardboard boxes, the kids and their ambitious parents went all out piling them up as high as possible; I would liken it to a bizarre game of Jenga, but even more fun-- if that's possible.

  by you.
My boys building "the city" in the Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

We Built This City - Sydney Opera House 2008 by you.
This was our second building-- it was all about the tunnel.

  by you.
When it was over everyone got a piece of masking tape with a blue tick on it (that's Australian for "checkmark") -- you can only imagine the excitement as we waited for our piece of tape. Wtf?

Royal Botanic Gardens Train by you.

On our way back to the ferry we usually get Captain Chaos some ice cream so he'll keep his pie hole shut on the way home, that would be our meltdown avoidance tactic-- I know I gots the mad parenting skillz, yo.

Did I mention his ambitions to be the newest member of KISS?




Share

21 comments:

Erin Maggie said...

Great blog! A much needed break in my working day! I see the Opera House from my desk here at work and I know I'm spoiled. I may miss the US a LOT, but Sydney Harbour is something special isn't it? Glad you guys make the most of what's on offer... there's always something!

Laura said...

The Opera House really is awesome--
recently we considered moving farther from the city but then we wouldn't do half the stuff we do every weekend!

Anonymous said...

Nice location! One of the things that I would really like to do is see an opera at the Sydney Opera House. Now I know who to get in touch with when we get that sorted out!

Oh, and Swedish hip hop for kids? I'm all about that!

Laura said...

Free Man- They're in concert in Adelaide Nov. 1. Here's a link to their schedule.

They also just announced they're coming back to the Opera House, we may go again.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=49280568

Anonymous said...

School holidays activities?

The Opera House is great, isn't it. Lots of good memories for me too. I had my first kiss with the man I eventually married on its steps...ahhh... :)

Laura said...

Tors- Wow, no wonder you married him! What a place for the 1st kiss!

formerly fun said...

Let's do a house trade, you can come to Huntington Beach, CA(surf capitol USA) and we'll come to Sydney. Shake on it.

Laura said...

FF- I'd love me some Cali right about now-- you're so on.

Anonymous said...

I love the Opera House too!! I go down there whenever I need a reminder of why I'm here (not that I really know what that is per se... but I feel better just seeing it for some reason!). Anyways, I'm still laughing over the Swedish rap and brass monkey bit- too great!

Laura said...

Natasha-- I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say The Opera House may actually be the coolest thing ever to live near.

Ali Dahmash said...

Oh, wish we had such a bay in Jordan, it's so lovely, and yes you are so lucky to have the Opera.

Calamity said...

You asked: you received.

Rassles said...

I feel that this is very important to see.

Laura said...

Ali- Sydney's natural harbor/bays are amazing-- you should come over and try some!

Calamity- Holy shit thanks!

Rassles- That's awesome. Maybe the grandkids can actually go do the voting for them-- I'm assuming they've done away with the Florida butterfly ballot which caused an insane number of old Jews to vote for Buchanan in 2000-- but just in case.

Lauren Kaplan Montoute said...

Certainly looks like fun to me. You wouldn't even recognize downtown Miami now. So many skyscrapers, alot unfinfished. I am joining your blog so we can keep in touch.

Laura said...

Lauren- I'm so glad we hooked up. Are the unfinished skyscapers office buildings? I heard there's a lot of unfinished condos-- what a shocker right?

Marvin said...

Yay, I love pictures! Your family looks like a nice, loving, cohesive unit. You're a good photographer!

I was just thinking about that Beastie Boys tune the other day. And here you are, singing it. HA!

Anonymous said...

aw gosh you made me all nostalgic. then I remembered I live here too.

(my son has dj'd at the opera house. can I put that on my resume?)

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous. I am marrying into the expat lifestyle - Saudi Arabia style! Australia sounds SO much more... friendly! :)

Laura said...

Thanks Marvin!

NurseMyra- I would put that on my resume, I figure we get to take credit for anything our children do-- right? Are you in Sydney?

Diana- See and just when I think I'm far away and isolated-- I find you...

Anonymous said...

yep, certainly am in sydney