I loved Sydney a lot for its modernity and its elegance.  I just loved the mix of modern skyscrapers and old historic buildings.   In some ways, it is like San Francisco.  Anyway, after we had visited the Hyde Parks Barracks, St, Mary's Catholic Cathedral, and St. James Anglican Church, we headed to the ANZAC Memorial and Hyde Park, all within walking distance of the previously mentioned sites.  Along the way, we saw another Georgian looking building which turned out to be the Sydney Grammar School.  It looked so elegant and upscale.

After crossing the street, we arrived at our next destination, The ANZAC Memorial.  Both Sydney and Melbourne have memorials to their fallen sons from the past World Wars.  Both sites are open to the public and visitors can go all the way to the top of the buildings.

Two Views of the ANZAC Memorial

The Statue of the Fallen Australian Soldier representing all Aussies who perished in various wars all over the world inside the ANZAC Memorial

The Statue of the Fallen Australian Soldier from another angle

The Mall in front of the ANZAC Memorial

Marc at the ANZAC Memorial facing Elizabeth Street

I couldn't let any opportunity go by without having my picture taken especially when it is a place as important as the ANZAC.  So here I am posing away.

The statue of British explorer Captain James Cook who landed in Sydney in 1770

The huge Hyde Park lined with fig trees.  The ANZAC Memorial is in this park.

The Archibald Fountain complete with spitting turtles and sculptures of Diana and Apollo.

I first heard of the word IBIS when Marc and I traveled to the United Kingdom last 1997.  We joined a group tour during the first half of our visit and the itinerary included stays in some of IBIS Hotels.  I never realized that the IBIS was the name of a bird and that I would actually see this kind of bird after which the hotel chain is named in Hyde Park.

Located in the corner of the city, Hyde Park is popular among businessmen at lunch time.  At night, twinkling lights illuminate avenues of trees, giving the place a magical appearance.  If I were to live in Sydney, it is in this area where I would like to live.