How to have a grand time in Sydney

Dear daughter,

We ended last October with a quick trip to Sydney, Australia to witness the wedding of your dad's cousin, and the sojourn was beautiful for several reasons-- it was my first out of the country trip with your dad, it gave me plenty of opportunities to bond with my new sisters, and Sydney was just extraordinary.

While the trip was too short, I think it was perfect. When you're older I hope you get to experience it, too. And while I would want you to discover the city for yourself and create your own memories, I thought I'd share with you some of my stories and tips, just in case you find yourself in that rare pickle when you do not know where to go next.

1. Explore the city by foot with your favorite person in the world. For a starting point, choose a place that is beautiful and meaningful like St. Andrew's Cathedral. When you are feeling a bit tired, grab a couple of beers and a table at the Opera Bar, where you have a splendid view of the sea and the Sydney Opera House. Let an hour fly by as you listen to each other's stories. It is hours like this that are most magical. 

2. Go to the boutique that sells things you absolutely love but can't find at home. Get bottles of hair conditioner and facial hydrosol, and a big tube of facial cleanser from Aesop, an up and coming Australian brand that creates organic skin care products that are kind on both your skin and the earth. Look, too, for that quaint little shop that sells spices from all over the world and get yourself a jar of something that sounds delicious and wonderful like herbs from Provence. 

3. Take photographs- and lots of them-so that years from now you will remember what you loved the most. Take photographs, for instance, of your cousin's beautifully intimate wedding in a charming old manor, where the couples said their vows while the birds chirped, and the string quartet played "La Vie en Rose." 

4. Get lost in the city with a bunch of lovely people-- in my case your dad's sisters. It doesn't matter that it takes you three hours to get to Bondi beach. When you finally get there, take off your shoes and feel the soft sand between your toes and the breeze on your face. The beach and the company are all worth it. 

5. When hungry, grab a tray of fish and chips from a nearby kiosk. Eat like a local and enjoy your food al fresco on a park bench. For dessert, share a meat pie. Don't mind the seagulls-- they are actually very harmless and are only perpetually hungry.

Finally, do not be scared to explore-- to walk into that tucked away street or to hop into a metro, even when you do not know where it will lead you. You are a tourist, after all-- you are meant to get lost.

Love,
Mom