On Location: The Opera House

By Gray Shealy

Australia was the most obvious place that I had never been to. It took me 42 years to get there. It is the only continent (our 7th) to which a work assignment never sent me (including Antarctica): A big swath of the world on which I had never set foot. And, it is the place that I had built such great expectation, such anticipation, that I never considered going for a ‘short’ visit. Finally, I tried a big-blow-out-celebration for my 40th. Alas, the pandemic had other plans. But, that gesture set the order for my most awaited adventure: our last set of expiring miles, ones that we had been saving for over a decade to dedicate to this journey.

The centerpiece of our Australian adventure was my first travel ‘love’ obsession. When I was nine years old, I built a model of the Sydney Opera House out of paper, and sent polaroids of it to the Lord Mayor of Sydney. I still have the letter that he sent in return. I took that letter with me on the trip. I had been admiring the building from afar since I was a young child, and it is partly to blame for my attendance of architecture school. 

Exactly 50 years before the morning we arrived at her grand staircase, Queen Elizabeth II was on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to commemorate its grand opening. I was thrilled to be there - albeit unplanned - on that day.

We dedicated an entire portion of our trip to the Opera House: first, with box seats at the very final performance of “Miss Saigon” 2 hours after we landed; our hotel room featured an “Opera View” to ensure she was on-tap for the duration of our stay; later, we attended a behind-the-scenes architecture tour throughout the building; and finally, a very special celebratory dinner at Bennelong—the fine-dining venue under the smaller sails, easily one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had—and not just for the architecture surrounding us!

If you haven’t spent time in Sydney, on the Sydney Harbor, and at the Sydney Opera House - in particular - I encourage it. Artistic sculpture meeting extremely clever, pre-computerized mathematics—the structure is the epitome of engineering as an art form. The best part: it is even more beautiful in person. It glimmers in all stages of light throughout the day; it changes appearance by the minute, from a sultriness by night, brazenness in the midday sun, and a golden twinkle in twilight. She is truly an icon for Australia, and for the ages.

See: Sydney Opera House

Photo Credit: Syllogi

Syllogi’s ‘On Location’ is a series of trip reports reflecting on our personal travels, as we research and experience the bounty the world has on offer.