The Quay to the City — Sydney’s Circular Quay

A look back from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Making our way back around Sydney Cove we approach Circular Quay.  Let’s face it — our Commonwealth cousins around the world really can’t spell.  Never could.  Never will.  If ‘quay’ (a platform extending into the water used to the loading and unloading of watercraft) were spelled as it is pronounced, it would be ‘key.’  Which reminds me of a little story from my stint in England back in the ’70s.  An English gentleman corrected my pronunciation of the word ‘schedule.’  “It’s pronounced, ‘shed-jewel’,” he admonished.  To which I replied, “Did you learn that in ‘shoe-well’?”

Looking across Sydney Cove from the Sydney Opera House

Inside Sydney Harbour is Sydney Cove, which is bounded by Bennelong Point to the east and The Rocks area to the west.  Bennelong Point is home to the Sydney Opera House, whereas The Rocks serves as the southern anchor for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a.k.a. “The Coat Hanger Bridge.”  At the southernmost portion of Sydney Cove lies Circular Quay it’s five wharfs, numbered 2 through 6.  Our Commonwealth cousins aren’t very good at counting either, it would appear.

Along Circular Quay approaching “The Rocks”

Just kidding.  There actually is a very small jetty along the eastern edge of Sydney Cove that is used by water taxis, but it’s totally separate from the five main jetties.  You can see the smaller “No. 1 Wharf” in this photo.  It’s the white and green platform extending out into Sydney Cove just to the right of the gabled orange roof structure and white umbrellas.

Approaching downtown from Bennelong Point

Sydney Cove is a very vibrant and dynamic area teeming with vendors, food stands, ferry traffic, and lots of sights to photograph — not least of which are the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney “Coat Hanger” Harbor Bridge.

Along Circular Quay approaching “The Rocks”

Oh, and did I mention the abundant wildlife?

Feeding Frenzy!

We’ll take a look at some of these sights in this week’s Fun Photo Friday.  Until then, here’s a few more shots:

Sydney Harbour Bridge — The “Coat Hanger”

Downtown Sydney

Sydney Cove