My blog, like a lot of things, is somewhat out of order from a chronological perspective. But this I do know, before getting downed by food poisoning mentioned in the preceding post, Alexandra, Eric and I went on a walking tour of the Rocks. Our tour guide was Dee and she was a wealth of information. so much in fact the ninety minute tour turned into two hours. While, I found everything very interesting, Alex wanted the tour to end and now at the 89th minute mark. Her husband, Eric, who teaches a bit of history at school, found it a good bit more interesting until his stomach started growling for some fish and chips from Doyle’s.
When you live in a city that has a long past, say most of Europe, a New York, a New Orleans, a Sydney, 
you can do things for students beyond reading a history book or watching a PBS play on the Scarlet Letter. For example, for these young’ns (how do they spell that in the series The Wire?) were brought as a field trip to the Rocks to learn history. As part of this, they donned costumes of prisoners, military, etc and carry a placard with a role of someone who lived during that time and what they did. When I grew up in Orlando, Florida, I think we once dressed up as Pilgrims for Thanksgiving, but that was about it. Did you get to go on field trips and dress up?
The older students in the photo to the right are sitting in the foundation of a former house in the Rocks. Yes, they are wearing school uniforms. All public school students do.
After the walking tour, we did in fact head over to Doyle’s for some fish and chips. There are four or so Doyle’s in Sydney and the restaurant was even part of an old American Express or some other credit card commercial more than a few years ago. The adult fish and chips is a little pricing around $37 AUD, but the Doyle’s in Circular Quay is prime tourist real estate. The fried fish was excellent. http://www.doyles.com.au/
After lunch, we walked around the Sydney Opera House and then hoofed it up to the Sydney Tower. Here are a couple of snaps from the top (more information about this attraction can be found in an earlier post).
Sometimes being a President of the United States…
Below is a sign located in Sydney tower where President Obama’s head is placed on a Koala Bear. You too can have your head placed on, not one, but your choice of three different Koala Bear poses. Alas, sadly, Eric and Alex were not interested.
Best Chips in the Rocks
In the Rocks there are a lot of pubs, bars and hotels where someone can grab a bite or some chips. I have to agree with Lisa that so far, the best wedges are from the Mercantile Hotel towards the end of George Street. It is a true Irish Pub and for 
Saint Patrick’s day had crowds and live music starting from 10 AM in the morning (when we passed by on the way to our walking tour). At the end of our day, and me feeling under the weather, we passed by again and I was able to muster enough strength to snap a photo. Should you visit Sydney, have some wedges here.
