Then
Day seven in Sydney was aggressively hot, like, 100 degrees hot, so I decided to embrace the great indoors and went to the Museum of History.
I learned more about the social history of Australia than I was emotionally prepared for. In 1788, the First Fleet, (eleven ships), was sent to Australia, (then called New Holland), to establish a penal colony. The goal was to relieve Britain’s overcrowded prisons and stake a claim in the Pacific. A year later, the Aboriginal population was hit with smallpox, likely brought by the ships. More than half of the population was wiped out.
Governor Phillip had intentions of building relationships with the Aboriginal people, but the weight of the history still sat heavy. I won’t lie, it left me feeling pretty down.
So I left.
I went to Surry Hills for lunch, which feels similar to Paddington: cute neighborhood, lots of shops and boutiques, very my vibe. Unfortunately, it was way too hot to enjoy it properly, so I made a quick exit and went back to the hotel to cool off and change.
Later, I headed to Darlinghurst for dance class at Jungle Body. My logic was simple: why sweat outside for free when you can pay to do it in a room with music. I loved it. Cardio, dancing, fully earned exhaustion.
After class, I picked up some food, went home, and settled in.
That was my last day in Sydney. Tomorrow, I head to Melbourne.
Now
Looking back, it’s strange that I didn’t try to manufacture some grand finale for my first week on the trip. No dramatic reflection. No big celebratory moment. I didn’t pause to mark it as significant.
I just… kept going.
At the time, it didn’t feel like something that needed a ceremony. It felt like real life had simply started and I was already in it.
