Christmas in Sydney - A Reflection!

It's different for me to spend time in Australia or any other country in the southern hemisphere during the Christmas season. Frankly, it's a tad bit odd to walk around during the onset of summer with all of the spark and energy that is characteristic of that warm season and know Christmas is knocking at my door back in the U.S. Somehow, the warm and tropical weather makes me feel like something other than Christmas is going on .... Yeah, I know I'm merely a product of my environment. I'm frequently reminded by friends and family members that Jesus, the religious epicenter of this holiday, was born in Bethlehem, and it seldom snows in that part of the world. That usually brings up the whole St. Nick story and the commercial discussion..... you know the rest of that story.

Never less, having spent most of my life living in cool to colder climates, I suppose I just grew to equate Christmas with snow and colder temperatures. The whole Los Angeles thing hasn't really resonated with me either. It's a bit warm here in the winter time. But at least it cools down at night and we get the occasional rain during the season making it a bit more wintry. (Can I admit that seeing all of the photos at Dickster's and Bowie Mike's blogs has made me a bit homesick?)

I'm sure I've been a victim of all of the commercialization as well. Years of television and media influences have convinced me that -

Christmas = Icicles, snow, and cold!

Not so in Sydney, Australia.

Christmas = shorts, tank tops, sandals, and swimming pools. It's the beginning of summer.

A Christmas tree in Darling Harbor. The center of social activity and a great place to stroll and people watch.

It was 75 degrees F.


But if it's Christmas, there's shopping to be done. And one of the big destinations for shoppers in Sydney is Paddy's Markets.

Lots of retail items for sale by a variety of vendors.


So many T-shirts for sale. I couldn't force myself to buy one. I need another T-shirt like I need another bear market. I'm guessing none of my friends or family members are longing for a shirt that says Sydney either. But I could be wrong.

Another shopping destination is the Queen Victoria Building. AKA, the QVB. The QVB is a late nineteenth century building designed by the architect George McRae and constructed in the central business district of Sydney, Australia.




A photo of the southern side of the QVB which opens to Bicentennial Plaza facing Sydney Town Hall.

The inside of the QVB.
In addition to retail shops, there are eateries and coffee shops.

Note the summer attire.

So the bottom line is this: Many people live in the Southern Hemisphere or in warm and tropical climates. For those that celebrate Christmas, it's quite normal for it to be nice and warm during the Holiday season.

But for me, I'll keep dreaming of a White Christmas and hoping for snow!

Just a small cafe!

I've discovered a new hip cafe in Darling Harbor, (Sydney) Australia. It's really not that hip but the owners are nice, the food is good, and the coffee is great! What more could you ask for? The name of the cafe is Pulse. It's just off Union Street near the intersection of Union/Pyrmont. Up the street from the legendary Pyrmont Bridge Hotel.






They specialize in a healthier menu. I usually have a breakfast sandwich made with spelt bread, avocado, and ham. But I just love their "Flat White" coffee!

Photo of my Flat White

So if you find yourself in the neighborhood. Stop by and have one. They're delicious!

Sydney, Darling Harbor, And the Pope!

Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's most popular recreation spots. Close to 1.3 million people visit the sunny foreshore precinct each year. The area has a colourful history and played a very important role in Sydney's early market days when it was used for receiving fresh produce and timber from Parramatta and the north coast. The past few days I've been branching out and exploring this part of the city. It's a little different from the financial district of Sydney and the "Rocks" area which is where I've spent most of my time so far. I've discovered a few eateries and Pubs outside of the common tourist traps and have found the people to be warm and friendly. This area is also the home of the "Star Casino" and "Maritime Museum." Still another big attraction is the IMAX theater - Currently showing (of all things) "Grand Canyon 3-D."

National Maritime Museum

But this week there's an even bigger attraction to Sydney and Darling Harbor: World Youth Day 2008 - WYD08. Organized by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis. Over 125,000 international visitors will bombard Sydney- more than the 2000 Olympics. This will be the largest event ever hosted by Australia and will include a visit by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. AKA- "The Pope."

As I walk around the city and the Harbor, I can't help but notice the many flags displayed to welcome the attendees and highlight the event. Additionally, I can't help but hear the many different languages spoken by hundreds of small groups of kids. It's truly exciting.

This clearly is a great opportunity for those young kids who are able to attend. I'm sure they will form lifetime memories and make loyal friends.

I'm not Catholic but if I happen to see the Pope I'll be sure to ask him to pray for all of us. Cause we need it!