City of sun in shimmering rain

Everything changes colour and highlights explodes in this beautiful glittering, shimmering magic cast. Sydney in rain is just as beautiful, - and perhaps even more compelling. Like the city invites you to really look beneath its sunny surface to discover its depth,- hidden curves and angles of gorgeousness.

Sunny Sunday in Rose Bay

Going for Sunday brunch in Rose Bay. Nielsen Café has it all: Great food, great athmosphere and a magnificent location!

 

The view from our brunch table at Nielsen Café.

A fresh outfit adding to the inspiring view.

The view from inside-out at Nielsen Café. 
Waiting to place our order I took this with my sister-in-law in mind. 
Think she would have liked this place!

My flatmate Alistair with the Sydney Skyline behind.

Sydney Skyline seen from Rose Bay.

Don´t think I can grow tired of this view. In love with the Sydney Skyline!

Please walk on the grass

I cannot think of a  better way to be welcomed to the botanic gardens of Sydney. One of many reasons why I feel like smiling, walking around in this city :-)

Manly the marvellous!

Manly Beach. Everything I ever heard about the beaches Down Under!

On Sunday Aug 8 my flatmate Alistair invites me for lunch with friends on Manly Beach. Taking the ferry from the main dock in Sydney (within a hens kick from t h e  opera house) I just marvel at the sights.

Sydney it is!

Friday August 6, 07:15 am: So finally - Sydney it is! After months & weeks, days & nights & hours preparing for my journey Down Under, it is really happening!

The first person to wish me welcome on Australian land is the smiling taxi driver who makes sure I am safely transported from the airport to my new home in Drummoyne. During the 20 minutes long ride, the taxi driver tells me he has now been in Sydney for 15 years, after having first tried to get to Norway! But (un)fortunately, the Norwegian immigration authorities requested he learned the Norwegian language to be granted a visa. Neither happened, as he took the second-first and probably best option and headed down under instead. 

I am sure that was not the worst thing to do. In fact, I would say that was the only wise thing to do. How could a young man from Pakistan seeking better financial odds be more happy with life in Oslo than in Sydney? Excuse me, you guys listing Norway as the best land on earth to live in, but I just don´t see that happen. I just don´t.

- Is it really true what they say about the winter lasting for 8 months a year in your country?, the smiling taxi driver asks me as we pass Darling Harbour on the way to Drummoyne this early Friday morning in August. The sun is making the water glitter and the air is fresh & filled with promises of spring. - Oh yes, I answer. - You would not voluntarily exchange spring in Sydney with winter in Oslo. 

Having spent no more than 37 minutes in this country, I already know so much. Swopping spring in Sydney with winter in Oslo is not an appealing idea.

The fortunate taxi driver is happily humming as we drive along. 

Oslo is far away. 

Sydney spring is here. And so am I.