After the traditional Tour de France highlights and a good breakfast – english style, we took the bus to Balmain wharf (where we found an open library) then the city boat to Circular Quay. The weather was a succession of showers or light rain and sun, but mostly wet really.

We headed towards the Museum of Contemporary Art, but stopped underway at a gachapon stand – these japanese capsule vending machines. It reminded of our trip to Japan and the Akihabara district in Tokyo.

We spent the morning at the museum. It wasn’t as “contemporary” as we were fearing. We’ve seen our share of random things and installations labelled art in these museums. The visit was quite nice, varied, international, sometimes rather immersive. It triggered the kids’ curiosity – they spent time looking, watching, experiencing.

We then went for a walk in the nearby Rocks neighbourhood. Séverine found a nice family restaurant for lunch. Thomas and his family joined us after lunch, together with Sam, Nathalie’s sister. We were lucky to arrive at the Rocks Discovery Museum just as a guided tour started, and got to learn about local aboriginal Australians (Cadigals), and about the history of the first convicts settling in the area. The locals were decimated by the virus brought by the English fleet, and pushed outside what now is the Sydney area.

Back to the gapachon machines for Alfie and Matilda, then to the opera and the Royal Botanic Garden. Tom, the three youngest kids and I then went to the State Library of NSW and a nice exhibition of children’s book illustrations, while the others went shopping in the city center.

We said goodbye to Tom & co (until tomorrow), and went eating at an Indian restaurant in Rozelle – our patience got put to the test while waiting for the food, but the food was worth it!

It was a long and busy day, a bit like Brisbane two weeks ago. We had a great day, with city wandering, art, history, culture and… family. A perfect day!