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Postcards Home Reports from Belo Interactive contributors at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia Carolyn Thornton: As Games ebb, a look at Sydney 09/30/2000 By Carolyn Thornton / The Providence (R.I.) Journal SYDNEY, Australia -- Flat like a lizard drinking -- you, of course, know that's an Aussie saying for working hard, right? -- for my first two-and-a-half-weeks here in Sydney, there wasn't a whole lot of time to see the sites. With the Olympics finally winding down, it's time to see a little bit of the land Down Under beyond Olympic Park. A Sydneysider -- that's another name for a local here -- was asked: If there was time to do just one more thing here in Sydney, what would you suggest? Climb the bridge, he said. That's the bridge, also known as "the old coathanger," shown on television countless times during Olympic coverage. The bridge is located in Sydney Harbour across the water from the Sydney Opera House. Tourists who can handle heights are treated to spectacular views by walking up a flight of 200 steps and taking a footpath across the bridge. Great idea, except the bridge was closed because of preparations for the closing ceremonies. Well, how about Australia's most famous beach? Bondi Beach it is, then, mate. Two short train rides and a bus trip and we're there. Although it is still early spring here, the weather is magnificent. At an ice cream shop, we pick up a double dip cone of "mango swirl" and "spotty dog" complete with a dollop of whipped cream and caramel on top. With the exception of the rather obtrusive stadium that was constructed temporarily on the beach for the Olympics, the view in every direction is magnificent, from the clear blue sky, to the white powdery sands, to the cool aquamarine South Pacific Ocean, to the jagged cliffs that form a stunning backdrop. Speaking of views, topless sunbathing is legal in Sydney and there were a number of sunbathers who took advantage of the opportunity to avoid the dreaded tan line. This stretch of beach usually is reserved for surfers, as strong riptides can make for dangerous swimming. But on this day, lots of people are out splashing in the surf. Huge salt water swimming pools at either end of the beach provide a tamer alternative when the surf gets too rough. Opposite the beach is a long row of surf, bikini and souvenir shops interspersed with outdoor restaurants serving all different types of food. We stop at a restaurant called Liberty Lunch. We drink honeydew juice, melon smoothies and mango shakes. The charcoal-grilled, crispy-skinned barramundi -- a fish Australia is known for -- was delicious over sliced eggplant with a marinara sauce. Back at the train station, people are lounging in Belmore Park, watching Olympic events on a huge television screen. A booth set up by Cocoa-Cola is already offering marked-down Olympic memorabilia. The real bargains, though, are a couple of blocks down the street at a place called Paddy's Market where you can find everything from a hat like the one Crocodile Dundee wears, to fresh macadamia nuts, to silly Sydney souvenirs. If your feet get tired, you can stop at a table advertised as an accupuncture and massage "center." Every once in a while, you can spot an Olympic athlete, recognizable by their team warm-up suits and credentials hanging around their necks, shopping along with the bustling crowd. You can pick up Sydney T-shirts cheap as chips -- that means very inexpensively -- here. Any one of a number of booths have them advertised at 3 for $22 -- that's just under $13 American. Of course, they don't bear the "official" Olympic logo, but they are the perfect answer when you have many to buy for and not much time. And there really is still so much to see and so little time. After all, it's not often that you find yourself on the other side of the world. So, catch you later. I'm off in search of wallabies and wombats. |
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Track star 
1996
swimming gold medalist Ryan Berube 
