Chelsea Flower Show – London in Bloom
Trip Over to London
It was a magnificent sunny, warm day for my visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London. I couldn’t have planned it any better, especially as it was booked so far in advance. The Show is held over five days in May every year, (except when there is a global pandemic, in which case it is held virtually). I believe they are now planning on holding the show over six days to allow more people to visit, but less people on each day. I hope the world gets well soon to make all this possible.
Getting there was a simple ride on the Tube to Sloane Square on the District or Circle Line. Then on exiting the station there are volunteers to answer any questions you have, and maps are on display to show you the short walk to the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, where the magnificent floral exhibition that is the Chelsea Flower Show takes over. Or, if you follow the crowd, you will get there very easily. As soon as you enter you will be surrounded by the colour and vibrancy of everything from the flowers, to the garden ornaments and sculptures, not to mention the exhibitors.
Pick a direction to head off and begin exploring. Wind your way around the outdoor sections, into the Great Pavilion when you need a break from the sun, just make sure you don’t miss a thing. Every little bit is worth seeing.
I am not a gardener, completely bereft of green thumbs! It was amazing to see all the displays, the flowers are all absolutely beautiful. The sculptures and outdoor ornaments are stunning, and there are stalls selling garden related things. I did buy a beautiful crushable, packable sun hat, and a raincoat, knowing the weather could change any day, which of course it did!
At Chelsea Flower Show time of year the whole of London seems to come to life with flowers, particularly on Sloane St and Kings Rd. But all over London, shops, hotels, restaurants and private homes all get involved in their own floral displays, so it is certainly worth walking all over London to see what you can find. Often you see crowds gathered admiring an amazing display they have come across in the streets.
There are a number of bars and eateries at the Chelsea Flower Show, and I noticed that Pimm’s is the drink of choice, so I joined in on that ritual while I had a very light lunch as I had pre-booked afternoon tea at the Drawing Room as a special treat. It was lovely drinking Champagne, eating beautiful tasty morsels and listening to harp music – a nice bunch of flowers on the glass table next to the harp player wouldn’t have gone astray! One for the Suggestion Box maybe? I followed up with a nice cup of tea before continuing to explore the exhibits. I also found that even with a booking at the Drawing Room there are no bathroom privileges, pick your timing, the global problem of queues for the Ladies exists here too!
After visiting the Chelsea Flower Show, if only I had a garden……….so inspiring!
Tickets and information are available from The Royal Horticultural Society website, where you can also become a member of the RHS. Depending on your gardening interest, there are various benefits in becoming a member, like special member only days. If you feel like treating yourself to afternoon Tea, or a Champagne Breakfast, make sure you book in to get everything on the day and time you book to go to the show. Of course, the earlier you buy your tickets, the more choices you have about the time to take tea.
While in London you might like to visit the beautiful Kew Gardens, take a walk from Camden Town along Regent’s Canal, or be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London.
Itinerary for my Trip Over to London
Flew from Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore, with Qantas on QF1, then QF2 to come home.
Stayed at the Royal Overseas League in St James’s.
Picked up at Heathrow by Naz from Black Lane Limos.
Travelled around London using a Visitor Oyster Card.
What's going on here, this little guy is on stilts!!! It was hard enough walking along the Bondi to Tamarama Ciastal Walk, through the crowds, in sneakers!!
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#sculptureart #sculptureinthepark #sculpturebythesea #highonarock #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #bonditotamarama #artinpublicplaces #sydney #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneycoastalwalk #sydneystyle #seekoutlife #seekandyoushallfind
Another arrangement in the David Jones Spring Flower Show at Sydney's Elizabeth St store.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #flowershow #flowersofinstagram #notthechelseaflowershow #flowerseverywhere #orangeflowers #blueflowers #orchids #orchidsofinstagram #explorethecityyoulivein #lunchtimewalks #seeeverythingdoeverything #colourmyworld
Walking down my street in the rain on my way to work, yet another bad hair day!!
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#sydney #flowersinthestreet #hedge #pinkandgreen #raininsydney #walkingintherain #streetsinsydney #walktowork #puddleseverywhere #sydneyinautumn #sydneyinautumnisperfect
The rain ended, for now, and I went to Hyde Park expecting to see all the flowers loving it, but no......they have all gone, trashed by the storms! The Archibald Fountain has construction screens around it and the grass needs some horses, sheep and cattle to move in and eat it!!
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #nomoreflowers #afterthestorm #stmaryscathedral #stmaryscathedralsydney #outinthesun #sydneycbd #sydneyaustralia
Having a whale of a time in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, this new whale installation is growing nicely.
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #whalewatching #havingawhaleofatime #whaleinstallation #artinthepark #gardenart #gardenideasgalore #outinthefreshairandsunshine #sydney #sydneyinautumnisperfect #walkinthepark
All it does in Sydney these days is rain, but the flowers I walk past in my local area are enjoying it.
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#flowersofinstagram #flowerseverywhere #flowersonthestreets #hibiscusflower #pinkhibiscus #hibiscus #hibiscus🌺 #pinkflowers #pinkflowersofinstagram #flowersintherain #raininsydney #sydneystreets
The Darling Harbour Ferris Wheel, surrounded by the highrise jungle that is developing in that area, not a person in site!! Yet another soulless enclave!
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#ferriswheel #darlingharboursydney #darlingharbour #nopeeps #nopeepshere #soulless #highriseinvasion #highrisejungle #lunchtimewalk #sydneyinwinter #sydney #sydneylocal #sydneyaustralia
More flowers on the streets near where I live. I think they are possibly Red Bromelaids, but really no idea!!
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#onthestreetswhereilive #bromeliads #redaustralianflowers #redbromeliads #sydney #redflowers #australiannatives #wildgarden #walkingallovertheworld #onthewaytowork
St Mary's Cathedral across the road from Hyde Park in Sydney. The spires were only added in 2000, prior to that there were just the two square towers with flat tops.
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#stmaryscathedral #stmaryscathedralsydney #hydepark #hydeparksydney #palmtrees #walkinthepark #churchspiresofinstagram #churchspires #sydbeycbd #outinthepark #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens
Flat Rock Creek at the top of Tunks Park, finaly lots of blue sky and sunshine for a weekend.
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#tunksparksydney #tunksparkwalk #tunkspark #flatrockgullyreserve #flatrockgully #flatrockcreek #sydneywaterways #sydneyweekends #blueskyandsunshine #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia
Walking around Sydney there are so many flowers spilling out of peoples gardens.
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#sydney #walkinginsydney #sydneystreets #explorethecityyoulivein
The park in the cbd of Sydney that has become my lunchtime breath of fresh air.
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #walkinthepark #breathiffreshair #sydneycbd
Between down pours, Tunks Psrk continued to fill with water. Lucky someone thought to put the "Ground Closed" sign in the middle of the cricket ground 🤣 I think anyone who turned up to play would have realised after wading through knee deep water on to the sodden grass that it wouldn't work out!😂
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#tunkspark #floodedpark #waterwatereverywhere #greengrass #aftertgerain #walkinthepark #sydneyinspring #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #myhometown #cricketground #toowettoplay #waterviews
Very impressive row of huge old trees in Hyde Park, Sydney. Walking in Hyde Park in my lunch break is my new thing.
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#hugetreeseverywhere #hydeparksydney #hydepark #walkinthepark #greengroundcover #intheshadeoftrees #sydneyaustralia #mysecretsydney #myhometown
Bright pink flowers enjoying some autumn sunshine, very welcone after all the rain.
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#pinkflowers #pinkflowerseverywhere #pinkflowersofinstagram #flowersinthestreet #flowersinthesun #flowerseverywhere #sydneystreets #sydneyinautumnisperfect #sydneyinautumn #onthewaytowork #someonesgarden
Autumn colours at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens.
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #autumnsunshine #autumnleaves #autumnvibes #autumncolours #sydneyinautumnisperfect #blueskyandsunshine #blueskywhiteclouds #walkinthepark #outinthefreshairandsunshine
Not sure how this flower managed to take on this glowing pink look as it climbed through the fence, but I like it!
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#glowingpinkflowers #pinkflowers #growingthroughthefence #someonesgarden #sydney #sydneyinautumn #sydneyinautumnisperfect #onthewaytowork #sydneystreets #walktowork #flowersinthestreet #peekingthroughthefence
Vivid Sydney at the QVB.
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#qvbsydney #qvb #sydneylunchtime #vividsydney #vividsydney2022 #lightupmylife #lightshow #pinklights #bluelights #purplelights #sydneycbd #shoppinginsydney #vivid2022 #explorethecityyoulivein #seeeverythingandevenmore
The beautiful lit works of art hanging under the dome in the QVB in Sydney as part of Vivid Sydney.
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#queenvictoriabuilding #qvbsydney #vividsydney2022 #vividsydney #sydney #sydneyaustralia #pinklights #bluelights #purplelights #beadsandbaubles #sydneycbd #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #seeeverythingdoeverything
Bright floral arrangement in the David Jones Spring Flower Show at the Elizabeth St store in the Sydney CBD.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #elizabethststore #sydney #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydneyflowers #sydneylocal #sydneystyle #sydneycbd #flowers #flowersofinstagram #flowerseverywhere #notthechelseaflowershow
Dreaming of where to travel when it is safe to start exploring again....
London, New York, Rome.
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#royalhorseguards #stjamesspark #toweroflondon #historicroyalpalaces #traitorsgate #brooklynbridge #flatironbuilding #chryslerbuilding #pantheonrome #trevifountainrome #piazzadispagna #london #newyorkcity #rome #dreamingoftravel #getwellsoonworld
The tree lined path near the NSW Art Gallery, on the way to Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens.
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#treelinedstreets #royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #artgalleryroad #intheshadeoftrees #onthewaytothepark #walkinthepark #takeabreath #takeabreakfromwork #outinthefreshairandsunshine #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylife #sydneycbd
Top 9 around Sydney Harbour.
Top Row - Berrys Bay, the other side of Berrys Bay, Balmain from Balls Head Reserve.
Middle Row - rhe old Coal Loader Wharf in Waverton, Milsons Point Park, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Ferry.
Bottom Row - Luna Park, Robertsons Lighthouse at Cremorne Point, Mosman Bay from Cremorne Point.
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#topnine #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #coalloaderwharf #milsonspoint #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyferries #lunaparksydney #robertsonlighthouse #mosmanbay #myhometown #endof2021❣️
The AMP Building us one of the better looking buildings looking over the city shore line of Sydney Harbour. (There is a shocker going up at the moment nearby!!) This is the view from the western gate to the Royal Botanic Gardens on Macquarie Street.
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#ampbuilding #interestingarchitecture #sydneybuildings #royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicgarden #sydneycbd #amazingarchitecture #sydney #sydneyaustralia #intercontinentalhotel #outinthesun #viewfromthepark #walkinthepark #explorethecityyoulivein
A glimpse of blue shy between down pours of torrential rain over Sydney. The Archibald Fountain in Sydney's Hyde Park, with St Mary's Cathedral in the background.
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#archibaldfountainsydney #archibaldfountain #hydepark #hydeparksydney #stmaryscathedralsydney #stormcloudsgathering #blueskybetweenrains #sydneylunchtime #breathoffreshair #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd
These little flowers are loving all the rain in Sydney, me, not so much ⛈!
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #pinkflowersofinstagram #pinkflowerseverywhere #pinkflowers #redberries #greenleaves #outinthepark #sydneycbd #sydney #sydneyaustralia #walkinthepark #gardenideas #parksandgardens #explorethecityyoulivein
The best office in Sydney? The control room for the Pyrmont Bridge, it swings open to allow boats to pass tgrough to Darling Harbour.
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#pymontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #controltower #controlingthebridge #sydneycbd #darlingharbour #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylunchtime #lunchtimewalk #sydneyinspring #sydneyharbourwalks
Sun's out in Sydney, but still the water runs down the sandstone at Tunks Park, a beutiful spring day in Sydney, and the foecast is for a few more days of sunshine 🌞🌞🌞
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#tunkspark #sydney #sydneyparks #sydneyinspring #aftertherain #sunshineinthepark #walkinthepark #outinthesunshine #sandstonerock #waterwatereverywhere #waterviews #seekandyoushallfind
A cassowary growing in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, I'll have to go back to see how it is growing and post some updates.....
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #sydney #animalplanters #sydneyinautumnisperfect #royalbotanicalgardens #rbgsydney #outinthefreshairandsunshine #explorethecityyoulivein #walkinthepark #cassowary #cassowarybird #growinginthegarden
Great balls of Cactus at the Art Gallery Road entrance to Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens.
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#cactusofinstagram #cactusgarden #cactusworld #royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #sydneyroyalbotanicgardens #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneyinautumnisperfect #outinthefreshairandsunshine #exploretheworldwithme
Field of flowers blooming in Hyde Park in Sydney.
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #fieldofflowers #orangeflowers #yellowflowers #pinkflowers #flowerseverywhere #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneyinsummer #outinthesun #walkinthepark
Happy New Year - wishing you all the best for a fabulous 2022 🥂🥳!!
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#sydneyfireworks2021 #happynewyear #sydneyaustralia #sydneywildlife
Hyde Park in Sydney, much smaller than Hyde Park in London, but still a lovely piece of paradise in the middle of the city.
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney
A very tropical looking section of Hyde Park in Sydney, it has been such a hot, rainy and humid summer these plants are enjoying it a lot more than I am!!
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #tropicalgarden #palmtrees #sydney #mysecretsydney #sydneyinsummer #walkinthepark #explorethecityyoulivein
Still dreaming of where to travel when the world recovers from Covid.
Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Split.
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#croatia #croatiafulloflife #croatiatravel #croatiafullofmagic #zagreb #dubrovnik #dubrovnikoldtown #dubrovnikwalls #stmarkszagreb #strossmartre #split #splitbelltower #zagrebbotanicalgarden #croatiancoast #dreamsdocometrue #dreamingoftravel #exploretheworld
This huge rock broke away a few storms ago, hopefully there's no more ready to break free higher up!
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#tunksparksydney #tunksparkwalk #tunkspark #fallingrocks #sandstonerock #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks #walkinthepark #myhometown #afterthestorm
Let me out!! Bright pink flowers escaping through the fence.
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#pinkflowers #flowersinthestreet #flowersofinstagram #sydneystreets #onthewaytowork #pinkflowerseverywhere #sydneyinautumnisperfect #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #escapingyourcomfortzone
The Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park on a rainy day in Sydney, just enough of a slow down in the rain for me to get into the park!!
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#hydepark #hydeparksydney #archibaldfountain #archibaldfountainsydney #fountaininthepark #waterwatereverywhere #sydneyintherain #sydney #sydneyaustralia #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneylife
And the rains came to Sydney again, Tunks Park has taken a battering with water seeping through all the sandstone blocks.
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#tunkspark #sydneyparks #sydneyintherain #rainagain #sandstonerock #walkinthepark #runningwaters #drippingfromthesky #sydneylife #sydneywaterways #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneynativeflora
Sandstone sculpture in Sydney's Hyde Park, representing Earth, Fire and Water.
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#sculptureinthepark #sandstonesculpture #hydepark #hydeparksydney #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylife #fountaininthepark
Another shell fullnof flowers at tge David Jones Soring Flower Show at the Elizabeth St store in the Sydney CBD.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #flowersofinstagram #flowershow #flowerseverywhere #underwatertheme #notthechelseaflowershow #sydneycbd #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydneyflowers
I walk past this tree everyday, I'm sure it gets bigger and more vivid everytime I see it.
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#streetsofsydney #purpleglorytree #purpleglory #flowersofinstagram #flowerseverywhere #purpleflowers #sydneyintherain #sydney #walktowork #somuchcoloureverywhere #flowersonthestreets
St Mary's Cathedral behind the Archibald Fountain in Sydney's Hyde Park.
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#stmaryscathedralsydney #stmaryscathedral #archibaldfountain #archibaldfountainsydney #churchspiresofinstagram #churchspires #fountaininthepark #walkinthepark #sydneycbd #sydney #sydneylife
In Marks Park on the headland at the southern end of Bondi Beach looking through this Sculpture by the Sea to Bronte Beach framed in the sculpture.
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#sculpturebythesea #sculptureinthepark #sculptureart #sculpture #markspark #brontebeach #brontebeachsydney #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #artinthepark #sydney #sydneylife #sydneybeaches #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneyparks
At the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge, one of the old sandstone pylons dwarfed by highrise towers now all around the Darling Harbour area.
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#pyrmontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #sydney #sydneyinwinter #darlingharbour #sydneycbd #lunchtimewalk #blueskyandsunshine #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneylocal
Christmas is over and we are getting ready for 2022....let's hope it's a good one!
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#martinplacechristmastree #martinplacesydney #martinplace #sydneygpobuilding #gpoclocktower #christmasinsydney #starontop⭐️️ #christmastree #staysafesydney💕
Not sure what these are going to be when they grow up, but they're a nice spot of colour near the Hyde Park Chess Set. I'll have to go back and see if they have grown up!
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#pinkflowers #brightgreenleaves #brightgreenleavesofbushes #flowersinhydepark #flowersinhydeparksydney #hydepark #hydeparksydney #sydneyinsummer #walkinthepark #outinthesun #freshairandsunshine #sydney
The giant art installation in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, called Sea of Hands, winding its way down from the Art Gallery Road gates.
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #seaofhands #artinthepark #artinstallation #outinthefreshairandsunshine #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneyweekends #lushgreengrass #sydneycbd #seeeverythingandevenmore #explorethecityyoulivein
Beautiful gardens just next to the CBD, going down to the harbour and the Opera House.
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #walkinthepark
Growing in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, an anteater surrounded by ants.
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#royalbotanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicalgardens #anteater #anteatersofinstagram #walkinthepark #artinthepark #sydney #sydneyinautumnisperfect #outinthefreshairandsunshine #sydneycbd #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #seeeverythingdoeverything
