A Book, a Movie, and a Song for Travel to Sydney

The city of Sydney, which has more than five million inhabitants, holds the 14th spot in the ranking of global cities. With ocean views and embraced by mountains, Sydney has been inhabited by the aborigines since ancient times. Its first European settlement only happened in 1788. It is the ideal city for travellers and tourists of all kinds, from nature lovers to fans of history, of contemporary architecture, even shopping fans! Are you an athlete? Then you will find Sydney the destination of your dreams! You can choose between aquatic sports like kayaking, surfing, or rafting as well as golf, hiking, or rugby. Culture lovers, on the other hand, will without a doubt appreciate the important musical, theatrical, and artistic events such as those held by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Theatre Company, the Sydney Dance Company and the Archibald, a prize for portrait art. In short, it is a city where it is impossible to be bored!

To give you a taste of this extraordinary city, as in the case of San Francisco, we have decided to recommend a book, a song, and a film that talk about it. Also, this time everything will be in English!

Babe: Pig in the City

After Babe reached world fame in the plot of Babe, his owner receives various invitations for exhibitions and expositions all over the world, but he always refuses. Until the day that Farmer Hoggett is severely injured. In order to save the farm, which is going through hard times, his wife, Esme, decides to show off Babe in the city market.

During the trip, however, Esme and Babe remain trapped in Metropolis, a great megalopolis, which is in reality the city of Sydney. They find asylum in a hotel occupied by many animals. The uncle of Landlady, Fugly Floom the clown, kidnaps Babe and adds him to his group of trained animals: chimpanzees Bob, Tesoro, and their son Tug along with the orangutan Thelonius. During a charity show at a hospital, Babe creates chaos by setting the stage on fire. This is where an adventure begins that will end up endangering the lives of all of the animals. It also will convert Esme and Babe into two improbable heroes, ready to risk their lives to save their friends.

For a children’s movie, Babe: Pig in the City has all of the appropriate elements to be an educational tool for learning English. The language is simple and clear. The dialogues are essential. The plot is adventurous but fairly linear. In addition to taking a look at parts of the city, you can take advantage of the opportunity to improve your Australian English by watching this film!

In a Sunburned Country

The author, Bill Bryson, is known for his love of travel and reporting. He has become famous on the international scene thanks to the story of his trip to Europe and his description of the Appalachian chain. This time, Bryson takes us to Australia, a unique continent from a natural, historic, and architectural point of view. His report has the lightness and irony of a good story but is also rich in anecdotes and interesting information, such as the history of the construction of the Sydney Opera House and a rich tour of the extraordinary Australian fauna. The pleasant and fluent way that this beautiful travel story reads will make you fall in love not only with Sydney but with the whole Australian continent!

Streets of Your Town

This is a song from 1988, written by Robert Derwent Garth Forster and performed by the Go-Betweens. It talks about a city, a bridge over the river, and a sunny day waiting for the rain. It could refer to any city located on a river, but we know it was written for Sydney.

Round and round up and down
Through the streets of your town
Everyday I make my way
Through the streets of your town.

Don’t the sun look good today?
But the rain on its way
Watch the butcher shine his knives
And this town is full of battered wives.

Round and round up and down
Through the streets of your town
Everyday I make my way
Through the streets of your town.

I ride your river under the bridge
I take your boat out to the reach
‘Cause I love that engine roar
But I still don’t know what I’m here for.

Round and round up and down
Through the streets of your town
Everyday I make my way
Through the streets of your town.

They shut it down
They closed it down
They shut it down
They pulled it down

Round and round up and down
Through the streets of your town
Everyday I make my way
Through the streets of your town.

Ready for Your Trip?

Now that you have an idea about how the city of Sydney is, are you ready to pack? If you need help with the Australian accent, why not try the ABA English course? We offer 144 free video classes and the same quantity of short films that will help you to familiarize yourself with many different accents, including Australian.