C’est sous un beau soleil de printemps, que nous sommes partis en destination de Circular Quay pour prendre un ferry en direction d’East Balmain.
Balmain est un quartier anciennement habité par les dockers, manutentionnaires et autres ingénieurs maritimes. Leurs jolies maisons du 19ème font très envie désormais: elles sont situées près du centre dans une atmosphère de petit village avec de superbes vues sur la mer.
Nous avons marché à travers des rues pentues et d’autres très étroites et aussi le long de l’eau sur des pontons aménagés.
Le retour vers le quai se fit par la rue principale remplies de petits cafés aux airs sympathiques et de magasins aux vitrines alléchantes…
Bref un petit quartier sympa, avec une belle atmosphère et de jolies maisons.
It is on one of those many sunny spring Sundays, that we decided to go for a walk in Balmain.
We first have to walk to Circular Quay to catch a ferry that will take us to East Balmain.
The suburb of Balmain was originally inhabited by the working class of dockworkers, stevedores and marine engineers. Their tiny nineteenth century cottages are now worth a fortune as they are closed to the city and offer magnificent harbour views whilst keeping the original village atmosphere.
We walked through steep, narrow back streets and quiet local wharves and across a number of quiet parcs.
As we walked near the water and passed Mort bay and Snail bay. We then arrived in Birchgrove where we saw lots of nice houses with nice views… Unfortunately for us a bit pricey… what a shame!!
From the shore one can admire the view of two of Sydney’s islands: Goat island and Cockatoo island.
The first island was once used as a hunting ground for aboriginal, before it became a sandstone quarry worked by convicts. It was also later used to store explosives and ammunitions after what it became the home base for the water police and marine fire brigade.
To go back to the wharf we have to walk along Darling street, full of welcoming and nostril-tinkling cafes and nice little tidy and colourful shop… such a lively and yet quiet village atmosphere!
