NYE

Happy 2011 everyone!! Ringing in the New Year was indeed a great experience in the Southern hemisphere this year. Friday afternoon it was a sweltering 35 degrees, but we braved the crowds to find a spot close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to await the fireworks, a show sure to impress. We met a couple of friends in the early afternoon and headed to Circular Quay, an area with a wide boulevard that leads to the opera house. After having our bags checked, we were allowed to go through the gated area, which normally is free to walk through and we found a spot on the walkway and set up camp. It was hot, busy, and the fireworks were still another 10 hours away. The nearby park had already reached capacity and were not allowing any more visitors to enter. We kept ourselves busy with books, food and watching the hordes of tourists trying in futile to reach the Opera House, which was blocked off hours before after reaching capacity. At 9pm them have fireworks for children, and at 12 the big show. It was worth the wait, there were fireworks from the top of highrises, the bridge itself, from Darling Harbour, the whole city was lit up. It was a great show, however we decided that next year we'll get tickets for a venue with a view and leave the sidewalk camping to the other newcomers.