So cool it's hot

This is the coolest hotspot, or hottest coolplace in Sydney at the moment: the Apple store. I'm not advertising, honestly. I went in yesterday to get a couple of things, and fell truly, madly, deeply in lust. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I wanna Mac. I wanna MacBook.

So, looking around for more stuff to sell on ebay. Fast!

Have a great weekend

Maybe you're going to go out on a photography expedition? Maybe you're spending a relaxing time with family or friends? Maybe you prefer your own company, or circumstances keep you alone? Maybe you have to work?
Whatever it is, be it catching up with people amidst the bright lights of a city bar like this one at Circular Quay, or lolling on a beach - enyoy!
Or as they say in these parts Avagoodweegend (which is Australian running-words-together slang; it was originally from a TV ad for insect repellant, Aeroguard)

Evening falls over the Opera House

Look at skies around the world.

Curves of steel

Back to our walk around the Circular Quay / Dawes Point area under the southern end of the Harbour Bridge.

Can you see the BridgeClimb group up on the curve of the arch?

No, I haven't done it; it's quite expensive, but I do mean to one day. Can't take your own camera. I support that idea, despite the cynicism it engenders (that you are beholden to the operator's expensive photos). Well, actually, the photos are included in the cost, and it's a regulation imposed on the operators. Just imagine the devastating effect if some clumsy tourist dropped their camera hundreds of metres below through the windscreen of a car passing over the bridge? There have been deaths on motorways from idiots throwing rocks off much lower bridges into traffic. It just doesn't bear thinking about.

Empty (July theme day)

This empty shop near me speaks to me about lots of things, including the increasing emptiness of suburban life. I am lucky to have a corner shop, a pharmacist, hairdresser, and a couple of small mixed businesses (groceries, fruit & veg) within a couple of hundred metres. However, this old butcher's shop on the next corner to me, speaks of a time when all shopping was done locally. Now in Australia about 65% of meat is bought in supermarkets (which is less than the UK or US; there are still lots of butchers shops here.

Local shops are also a place to meet and converse with your neighbours - the ones you count as acquaintances if not friends, and count as part of your community. The people who would recognise your face if you had to seek help in an emergency.

Today's first-of-the-month theme amongst the city daily photo community is Empty. See how others have interpreted the theme.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

And today, a supplementary photo! When I'm thinking stuff like the thoughts above, in order to stop myself getting depressed about things, I like to find beauty, humour, or a combination of both, in the world around. As I was walking to the station this morning I spotted this empty crate on the footpath, with a banana peel inside. Do you think maybe a monkey is loose on the streets of Postcode 2205?

OH, HB and sandstone

There aren't all that mny places where you can get the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in one shot. The Dawes Point (western) side of the bridge is one.

This is taken from Ives Steps Wharf right near Pier One.

I don't know what the little round copper-roofed sandstone building is - couldn't see a plaque (maybe I'm just unobservant), and I've been madly googling, to no avail. So if anyone knows what it is, I'd love to know. It's a footpath level, with the wrought iron fence along the water on either side.

Update: My Sydney bloggy colleague and indefatigable historical super-sleuth, Julie, has probably solved the mystery. The site was originally used as a tiny observatory, built by Lieutenant Dawes. But then Governor Macquarie ordered a crenellated tower be built as a defence against the Russians and French, so this is probably part of it.

Julie also uncovered some interesting information about the beautiful wrought iton balustrade - have a look at Julie's Plumbing the Deeps blog to find out more.

Rivets

Resuming our walk around from Circular Quay to Pier One....here we are under the Harbour Bridge.