The following post features student writing.

We began our day at 7 a.m., working our way out of the Pensione Hotel toward the Townhall subway station (public transit here is called “Opal”). After much deliberation, we settled on a traditional Aussie breakfast—Starbucks! Fueled by coffee, tea, and muffins, we hopped on the train and began our journey to Bondi Beach. When we got there, the vastness of the ocean spread out before us and we all took a moment to appreciate the the views. Murals lined the seawall that separated the beach from the shops, so we stopped to take photos with the artwork. Moving our way toward the Coastal Walk hiking path, we snapped pictures of the beach, and stared longingly at the water. By the end of the walk, the sun had fully risen, and heat was on the horizon. Soon, we were in the water. Some of us in bathing suits, and some fully clothed too tempted by the surprisingly warm water, we played in the waves, coating ourselves in a healthy layer of salt and sand.

Our swimming built up an appetite, and we ventured into the local strip to get lunch. With takeout ranging from fish and chips to acai bowls, we sat in a park on the beach to eat. Sufficiently fueled for our next adventure, we headed back into the heart of Sydney to bike the city. We got a view of the Sydney Opera House from Campbell’s Cove, learned a bit about Australian history from our guides, and saw a beautiful sunset illuminate the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel to break for some much needed downtime and dinner. In groups, we headed out for a meal, and of course, dessert. At 8:30 p.m., we met back up to conclude our day, and discuss the future adventures that lie ahead.

– Caroline K.