I Was Here

I was standing at the edge of one of the most iconic sites in the world. Behind me, the majestic sails of the Sydney Opera House loomed over the ferries entering and leaving the docks of Circular Quay and while I couldn’t see it, I knew that the grand arch of the Harbour Bridge stood only a few hundred metres to my right.

The air was unexpectedly crisp and I, unequivocally underdressed. Overhead, dark, thunderous clouds were rolling in, casting a shadowy veil over everything. It wasn’t spring yet and all day, much like my mood, the weather had been oscillating between bright and dreary.

“Is this it?” I thought.

It seemed to me that I should have been a lot more enthusiastic, that just being there should have been enough to send me over the moon, but truth be told, I was having a difficult time reconciling experience and expectations.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

Around me, a dozen or so people were gathered to listen to the ramblings of a tour guide that could only be described as green. I was only partially aware of the words coming out of his mouth, too busy observing the dubious glances being exchanged.

I shivered.

At that moment, the sky ripped open and released heaps of frozen pebbles on the Harbour. The ice stung and left red marks as it hit my bare skin. The group scattered as everyone, myself included, ran to escape the hail.

I momentarily took cover under a narrow archway with two strangers and the tour guide. As we waited, our bodies in uncomfortably close proximity, an awkward silence filled the little space left between us.

With the storm showing signs of relent, we ventured back onto the street. Unfortunately, the hiatus was short lived and once again, we found ourselves scrambling for cover. Running through The Rocks district’s sinuous streets, we finally found shelter in a hostel.

Inside, the guide led us to the rooftop where we were reunited with the rest of the tour group. By that time, brilliant rays of sunlight now pierced through the dark, grey clouds. As a unified group, we took a chance and stepped out onto the rooftop patio.

Collectively, we gasped.

From our vantage point, we could see the grand arch of the Harbour Bridge and the majestic sails of the Sydney Opera House now linked by the vibrantly colourful rings of a full rainbow.

As I stood there, staring at the Harbour once more, this time in all its glory, I couldn’t help but think, “Now, that’s more like it!”