We only had two recommended must-visits for shopping, so we started with the furthest out and made our way back to Manly.
1st stop: Paddy's Market
This turned out to be more familiar than we expected. It was basically a flea market with a produce section. We did the obligatory walk through the aisles to view everything, but spent very little time truly shopping. There were a couple shops that we found unusual, i.e. costumes, European spices, but most of the spaces were spot on what you would picture. So, we hopped along to find some food and our next recommendation.
2nd stop: The Rocks
This was the polar opposite of of first stop. First, it was outside, spread over almost two city-blocks. Scattered throughout the shops, there were various food carts. In one corner, you could sit, eat and watch a dance performance. There were kiosks to shop for art, jewelry, and souvenirs. It had an elegant feel to it.
Unexpected Shops: Aboriginal Art
While in Sydney, we've been on the lookout for Aboriginal art. Anytime we saw an art gallery, we popped in to take a peak. One store in Manly had a lovely lady working, and she offered us some history on the work.
The oldest, most traditional form of paintings are created with dots and a few basic shapes. Each piece is actually an arial map of an important location to the Aboriginal people. Additionally, many paintings told tribal stories through the use of basic symbols.
The more modern pieces are significantly more abstract. There are a variety of forms. I was continually drawn to the style of Bush Medicine Leaf and another style that looked like feathers. Although truly beautiful, these contemporary pieces don't have a piece of tribal history attached to them.
Knowing more history on the paintings, we were more excited to stop inside anywhere that we might find Aboriginal artwork. So, when we found a store/gallery in the same area as The Rocks, we couldn't resist browsing. We spent a long time looking at all the pieces and stories. The man working was very friendly and helpful. There was one piece we really liked, but decided to keep looking. (I still want to go back for it!)
The oldest, most traditional form of paintings are created with dots and a few basic shapes. Each piece is actually an arial map of an important location to the Aboriginal people. Additionally, many paintings told tribal stories through the use of basic symbols. The more modern pieces are significantly more abstract. There are a variety of forms. I was continually drawn to the style of Bush Medicine Leaf and another style that looked like feathers. Although truly beautiful, these contemporary pieces don't have a piece of tribal history attached to them.
Knowing more history on the paintings, we were more excited to stop inside anywhere that we might find Aboriginal artwork. So, when we found a store/gallery in the same area as The Rocks, we couldn't resist browsing. We spent a long time looking at all the pieces and stories. The man working was very friendly and helpful. There was one piece we really liked, but decided to keep looking. (I still want to go back for it!)
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