Mardi Gras

Sydney Opera House
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Could not stay away from the Mardi Gras parade on Sat Mar 1.  We were at the end of the parade route but didn't have to wait too long for the fun to start.  Quite a tame parade, all considering.  Hardly any nudity.  Lots of parade entrants in uniform - police, defence.  Tall nuns, drag queens in lovely costume.  I got on a pink wig and pink jewelry.  Next time, lots more accessories and makeup.

Australian Museum very good.  The skeleton exhibit is awesome, I didn't realize that underneath, our skeletons are so similar to almost all animals.  Stunning mineral exhibit too, bright orange crocoite, creepy green malachite, sickly yellow sulpher, iridescent opals, amethysts, rubies, lots of stuff.  Great museum for children, lot of clever thought has gone into presentation.  Face-to-face - an exhibit of sad ape stories and lovely pictures.

Mardi Gras, Botanical Gardens and the Sydney Opera House

The Bone Ranger!
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Museum of Contemporary Art a disappointment, very little to see.  Art Gallery of NSW is ok.  European and Australian art.  Lovely aboriginal art by Eubena Nampitjin.  Also something called layer photographs, with words and pictures layered upon each other to tell a story.

Am living in the city center, so I often walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park - a sight for sore eyes.  White ibises, silver gulls, grey headed flying foxes, massive spiders, views of Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, bright sunny days with few clouds.

Green and Blue, Sydney Skyline
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Saw Carmen at the Sydney Opera House.  Carmen had a rather weak voice, rest of the cast had exceptionally good voices.  My first opera as a grown-up, so quite enjoyable.  Excellent acoustics at the Opera Theatre.  Unfortunately, could also hear every cough and sneeze along with the orchestra.  What happened to the days when the audience would keep its trap shut, not daring to breathe, especially during live performances?