Day 5: Sydney

Today students were free to explore the sights and sounds of Sydney. Some students went on a Harbor Cruise/Tour across to the Manly area where they browsed in various shops. They also visited the beach there.

Other students visited the Sydney Opera House, attended a tour and then the show Le Grande Cirque. This is a show that is similar to the famous Cirque du Soleil where the audience witnesses solo aerial strap routines, contortionists, a magical cloud swing, the wheel of death and a ballerina performing Swan Lake on pointe on top of another performer's head. These acts are all performed in tune with a live orchestra. Yes folks, it was amazing and kept everyone in the audience on the edge of their seats.

Fun Facts about the Sydney Opera House:

• The most expensive ticket for a show was $860.


• The Opera House employes 700 people including a full time nurse who works from 6 am-12 midnight.


• The original estimate for construction was 3 years at $7 million but in the end was 13 years and $102 million.


• There are lifts at the back of the stages that go below to lift the set up. These lifts can carry 20 tons!

Students also visited the Australian Museum and passed by the Anzac War Memorial. The Museum is home to many permanent exhibits, including Skeletons, Indigenous Australians, Planet Minerals, Surviving Australia, Dinosaurs and Birds and Insects.

Fun Facts from the Australian Museum:

• A human baby has more bones (306) than a human adult (250).
  
• Penguins are birds, but they only 'fly' in the water. They can swim 15-20 kilometers a day in search of fish to eat.


• There are different types of beaches, 'Reflective beaches are steep with coarse sand and big waves. Flat, fine sand beaches with waves breaking farther away from the shore are 'dissipative' beaches.


• A mosquito is a type of fly. The mosquito is the world's deadliest insect.
  
• There are more than 2,800 weeds, 25 mammals, 20 birds, 4 reptiles, 1 frog, 34 fish, between 100-400 marine species and an unknown number of invertebrates that have been introduced to Australia since 1770.

Some of the ladies went shoe and dress shopping and met someone who gave them an invitation to the grand opening of the salon that does the hair for Australia's Next Top Model. Rachel Sexton was able to get her hair done by these professionals.

Kelsey Hansen has exciting news to share with everyone. She found out this week that she has been accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for graduate school! Her studies will be centered in Physical Therapy.