Pancakes On The Rocks

In The Rocks (the area around Circular Quay and where Sydney has its foundations) there is a little place called Pancakes on the Rocks. They have pancakes with every possible topping you could imagine. If you like pancakes, they have a pancake to satisfy your heart's desire. I was overwhelmed with the amount of choices available.

The pancakes are HUGE! I ate pancakes as a desert/dinner because it was such a large dish. It is definitely a place to go if you feel like splurging or you have a craving for some good ol' pancakes. I opted for the "Bananarama" which has buttermilk pancakes, fried bananas, a butterscotch drizzle, and vanilla ice cream. If you are a chocolate fan, you can substitute the buttermilk for chocolate pancakes. Beware, they are rich!

If you are not a big pancake fan, you could also try something off of their normal menu...but their pancakes are definitely famous for something!

Check out the menu here.

Hyde Park – Where do you hide your giant chess set?

As I was walking around Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District) on a random Monday afternoon, I made a stop to roam around Hyde Park. Hyde Park is accessible from St. James train station or if you just decide to roam around the heart of Sydney like I did, you will stumble upon it. One of the focal points of Hyde Park is the Archibald Fountain, which is absolutely wonderful, especially if you are fascinated by sculpture and mythology like I am. The Fountain honors Australia’s contribution in France in World War I; it was donated by J.F. Archibald in 1932. I was particularly interested in finding the Fountain because the lecturer in my religious studies class mentioned it in a discussion of Greek mythology and the Bull of Knossos.

Right behind the Archibald Fountain is St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Cathedral has a brilliant Gothic architectural design and is lovely to see and experience the atmosphere around the Cathedral when the bells chime. I was lucky to get there as they were chiming and it was so welcoming and peaceful. I walked through the Cathedral (unfortunately, I could not take any pictures of the inside) and the stained glass and altars were amazing. I definitely suggest walking through if you have the chance!

I have heard about Hyde Park having a huge chess set (kind of reminiscent of Harry Potter and that one scene in the Alice in Wonderland movie with Johnny Depp). I was searching for the chess set but I could not find it! I was so disappointed! I walked through the entire park! I will have to do some research and set forth on a quest to find the chess set. I will find it before I leave Sydney! I will keep you posted ;)

I recommend taking a stroll through Hyde Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral whenever you have a day to wander and explore through the heart of Sydney. The best part is that it is free to explore, and you will experience some of Sydney’s history while you relax and enjoy the sights and the atmosphere.