The lure of virile Sydney

Take a taxi from Sydney Airport and chances are that the driver will not say, "G'day", with the broad accent you might expect. Probe a little further and you will probably discover that he was not born in Australia. 

Like the United States, Australia is a society of immigrants, and Sydney has been a preferred destination for many of these new arrivals. Over the past half century the Anglo-Irish immigrants who made up the city's original population have been joined by successive waves of Italians, Greeks, Turks, Lebanese, and, more recently, Asians. This intermingling has created a cultural vibrancy and energy that were missing a mere generation ago.

Sydney is a city in a hurry. Compared with traffic in the rest of Australia, Sydney's is fast and impatient. The more than 4 million people in this city work hard and play harder; moderation is something practised by the citizens of Melbourne. Sydney has the tallest buildings, the most expensive real estate, the finest beaches, and the seediest nightlife of any Australian city. Most Australians regard its loud, brash ways with a mixture of fear and fascination, although Sydneysiders prefer to think of home as virile rather than vulgar.

The city's panache and appetite for life seem a strident contrast to the barren, unforgiving continent at its door. In fact, for the average Sydneysider, life unfolds in one of the red-roofed suburbs that surround the city. 

The outback is as foreign to most of them as the Mojave Desert is to the inhabitants of Boston. They have embraced Sydney's harbour with a passion, however. The harbour is a shining gem, studded with small bays and inlets and crowned by the billowing sails of the Opera House.

Visiting this city is an essential part of an Australian experience. But remember, as you do so, that Sydney is no more representative of Australia than New York is of the United States. 

It has joined the ranks of the great cosmopolitan cities whose characters are essentially international, offering great looks, style and sophistication. 

Take flight with Mackinnons

As representatives of American Express Travel Related Services, Mackinnons have the capacity to link their clientele to a global network of 1,700 offices. Connections with airlines and professional staff around the world guarantee comfortable travel on any airline to destinations of your choice. Their services include the issue of traveller's cheques, hotel reservations and arranging transport. 

A quest for continuous quality improvement culminated in the company being the first in the service industry in Sri Lanka to obtain ISO 9001: 1994 certification in October 1997. A recognized leader in the industry, the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, has awarded Mackinnons, the prestigious Gold Award (No. 1) for nine consecutive years. In addition, Mackinnons have been awarded Gold by several other leading airlines. 

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