Sydney, Australia: WOW! (Part One)

Day 1 on the continent began with...drum roll please....spinning.  Yes, that's right.  At 7am we did a Spinning class in the phenomenal gym at the Hilton Sydney where we are staying.  This is hands down the best gym I have ever seen at a hotel.  Even Laurie had to admit this one was over the top.  Lots of machines of every sort with trainers at the ready to help you get the most out of your workout.  Weights galore, a good sized lap pool, a spa, and multiple workout rooms for aerobics, pilates, kettlebell, spinning, etc.

The class was a great workout; much harder than your average 45 minute bike ride.  Great start to the day.  Just warming up here:

After a nice little breakfast, we began what was to become a ridiculously full day.  First stop - the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), which is right across the street from the hotel.  It is undergoing a bit of exterior work right now, but you get the idea:

I'm not one for shopping.  In fact I quite loathe the task (with various exceptions - ski equipment and the like, e.g.).  BUT, give me a building like this and I could be quite occupied for some time, architecturally that is.  Check this out!

Check out this calendar/clock.  It was 10-something a.m. on Feb. 14th.  The ship that you can see in front of one of the blue ovals actually moved around the whole clock once per minute, the second hand if you will.

Here's a view of this multi-tiered shopping extravaganza:

Check out the spiral staircase to a tiny door in the wall:

Amazing stained glass windows:

After ogling the windows of many of the fine shops, we set off down George Street toward Circular Quay and The Rocks area at Sydney Harbor.  The Rocks is an area that really represents the birth of modern Australia where convicts arrived on the continent from Britain back in the late 1700s.  Today, this area has been transformed into a charming area with shops, museums, restaurants and narrow alleyways with all sorts of surprises around every corner.

I really like this mural showing, from right to left, the changes in the harbor area from hundreds of years ago to today.

The Rocks:

When you arrive at Sydney Harbor for the first time, you immediately understand why many think this is one of the great cities of the world.  Captivating views of boats and people, bustling activity all around you and yes, our first view (not from a plane) of the famous Opera House.  To me, this may be the most iconic building in the world (possible exception of the Eiffel Tower, which really isn't a building in the traditional sense).

This view also captures the boat hustle and bustle, which never seems to end.

In the morning we visited the (free) Museum of Contemporary Art, walked The Rocks, and had lunch at a great little french bistro sort of place.  This is one unbelievable city.