An American tourist has been left ‘mindblown’ by Sydney, comparing it favourably with New York City.
The Californian woman was gobsmacked by the ‘clean’ and beautiful’ buildings while walking through the city centre on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old said the skyscrapers give off ‘New York vibes’ but with a much higher standard of cleanliness, noting it ‘doesn’t smell like human poop’.
The solo traveller fawned over Sydney’s architecture, particularly the Victorian-era sandstone buildings, in the video posted to TikTok.
‘I seriously feel like I’m in a movie, the buildings are just beautiful,’ she said while wandering past shops in The Strand Arcade.
‘I feel silly because I’m so culture-shocked… in a good way too.’
The woman said it was strange to see residents so accustomed to their city and ‘just going on with their day to day life’ amidst the beauty that captivates a newcomer.
She revealed she had ‘no expectations’ outside of the Sydney Opera House and had not even planned on visiting; only coming to the US Consulate General after losing her passport in Brisbane.
Some Sydneysiders were taken aback by the high praise for their city, with some ‘confused’ by her glowing assessment.
‘Almost choked on my coffee comparing Sydney to New York,’ one user commented.
‘It’s so weird to hear people get mind-blown by Sydney,’ a second wrote.
‘Take back the “it reminds me of NYC” that’s offensive,’ a third said.
Others said the comparison had made them ‘reflect and appreciate’ the city.
‘I’ve loved watching you walking around Sydney, I lived there for over 20 years and love to see it through fresh eyes,’ a user wrote.
Another said the video ‘genuinely made me smile watching you enjoy discovering the city’.
The Californian previously told Daily Mail Australia that she had fallen in love with Australia immediately after touching down in Perth in late September.
‘The whole experience has really humbled me. I love the vegetation and wildlife you guys have and how everyone looks out for one another. I’m learning a lot,’ she said.
She was almost brought to tears after seeing young children catching public transport with their friends or alone; something rarely seen in her native California.
‘It blew my mind but it tells me how safe you guys are compared to the states. [In America] you don’t really see kids going out on their own like that anymore and if they do, you are just concerned for their safety and wonder where there parents are at because it’s really not safe there,’ she said.
She added that Australian food and produce was better than in the United States and that she appreciated how restaurants don’t charge for tap water.
‘Australia is super multicultural and diverse and it’s genuinely a happy place. The only thing I don’t like is that everything closes at 5pm,’ she said.
The final comment is a criticism often levelled at Sydney and other Australian cities where high prices and strict regulations have severely curbed nightlife.
