Sydney Festival First Night

I think half of Sydney was packed into the CBD last night. I have never seen it as busy. It was very good I have to say. There was lots of entertainment of all types. Even Pitt Street Mall had buskers all the way down. (Yes, more than normal) I first went to Hyde Park and I wasn't sure what to see, there seemed so much really good entertainment. I really went to check it all out; much to my feet's dismay as I walked from one thing to another just getting a snap shot. I thought that the free bike store was a great idea and Clover if we are going to make a difference perhaps we should have several permanently around the City. I think the children really enjoyed Erth. It did strike me the afternoon was meant to be for children and I didn't see too much of that.
As it got dark the illuminations could be seen. Chifley Place was amazing with one whole building covered in moving pictures. It got so busy I could hardly get through to go to the station, when I finally went home. Macquarie street had to be my favourite, two sites both with different music. The saxophone players were very entertaining and I know people called out for more from the Scottish pipe band, and many others. Oh, something else I thought was amazing was the lady hanging from the balloon. How the two guys coped with going through the crowds and not letting the poor lady fly away! How the balloon kept changing colour was good too.
The Domain was packed and in the end they had to close it off. It was very hot, I thought as it got dark it would get cooler, but no. I did listen to The Black Arm Band which were very good. I particularly liked one of the tracks with the didgeridoo and a lady making rhythmic sounds with her voice. That's a very poor description, you will just have to take my word on it! Sadly, due to the heat and lack of water I headed home very dehydrated. I had been drinking water but obviously not enough due to the amount of walking I did.
The only big complaint I had was that ANZ (impressive sponsors, they were last year too, now I know where they spend our bank charges!) were giving out water but because they were filling bottles it was taking too long. OK, nobody was to know it was going to be that hot but there was not enough water even for sale. There was not enough food stalls either for the amount of people. The queues were so long in the Domain they were blocking people coming in and out in one section. On another sore point, I went home by train. The whole carriage had been trashed by people drinking, come on Sydneysiders have more respect. Cityrail's job is to run trains not to clear up after vandals and mindless drunks.
I don't want to end this post on a negative as all in all the First Night was a huge success on many levels. I still can't get over how many people went. I am looking forward to seeing Sydney Symphony next week in the Domain.