Ok, I've been busy!
Friday, I went off to do my own thing. Lauren was due to arrive so there was family time for Paul & co. I headed off to the wonderful South Bank Parklands area. Took in the Nepalese Peace Pagoda then went on to the Queensland Art Gallery . There I had another discussion about my small red bag and whether it is a backpack. This time reason prevailed and I was allowed to keep it with me - as long as I didn't put it over my shoulder......
The Art gallery was good and I spent some time wandering around taking in European, British, Oriental and Australian art, both modern and more traditional. It was mostly pictures but there were some sculptures and ceramics. I was probably most excited by a famous piece by Barbara Hepworth which I even recognised. It was "Orpheus" and I shall post up a photo when I have more time (it is on twitter if you go and find @runningwomble). As the staff had been so kind, eventually, I stayed and lunched at QAG too. A baguette of toasted halloumi with roasted vegetables and some green stuff, followed by the most deliciously creamy cheesecake set me up rather nicely for even more fun at the adjacent Queensland Museum.
I do love a good museum and I think I've already mentioned how fabulous I find Australian museums. This was no exception. An excellent section on the history of Queensland; loads of stuff about dinosaurs and the fossil discoveries in Queensland in particular; a poignant selection of photographs from the Great War "Remember me - the lost diggers of Vignacourt; local aboriginal history; a discovery section which had some live creatures. This last included stick insects, burrowing cockroaches (GROSS), leaf-tailed gecko (impressively camouflaged) and two amazingly beautiful small green snakes. I have photos of all these to follow soon. Off back to the hostel and Paul, lauren and I had a catch up over dinner. No baby.
Saturday, we sat on the veranda and put the world to rights again before going off to do some of the Saturday markets. Back to South Bank and the market was mostly clothes, jewellery and upmarket tat. That didn't take long at all and we walked up and over Victoria Bridge as we thought something might be on in the space on Queen Street. We were wrong. Empty on Adelaide Street too. Apart from Saturday shoppers. So we strolled along the Bicentennial Bikeway to Go Between Bridge and found the West End Saturday markets. At least they were there even though we arrived ten minutes after the advertised closing time of 1.30pm. This was more like it - fruit and veg, juice bars, coffee stands, fish for sale. Paul had a lemon and mint ice tea but I'm afraid I was holding out for a coffee. Following our noses and the occasional street sign, we got back to boundary Street, familiar territory and not so far from the hostel. I spied the vegan cafe I'd noticed on my first recce of the area and we went in. How disappointing, the coffee was dreadful. It really out me off any idea of returning to try the food, however interesting it sounds.
A late lunch back at base and we'd arranged for Kelly, Tristan and bump to come over for dinner at the pizza place over the road. We went in fairly early as these pregnant people get tired and it was just as well. There was a family birthday party of about 16 people who started to arrive not long after our little group of 5+. Anyhow, the place did not disappoint and we had another yummy meal. Paul and I whiled away the rest of the evening over the second bottle of wine - the world was definitely looking better.
Sunday - up before 8 to start sorting my bags before Paul conjured up these amazing, fluffy, thick pancakes for brekkie. And then it was off to the station to make my way to Brisbane airport and then, with the help of Virgin Australia, to Cairns. The flight was a lot smoother than last week and my ears seem ok. I'm now in the Cairns Central YHA and have booked myself up onto all sorts of tours. Tomorrow I'll be in some caves. Tuesday is the Tjakupai Aboriginal Cultural Park which will also feature a trip on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway hoho. Wednesday I may even see Cairns in daylight before going off for a couple of days to Cape Tribulation, Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas. Monday next week, I shall see the Great Barrier Reef from the safety of a moored platform and a glass bottomed boat. None of that snorkelling nastiness for me, thank you.
I may even find time to write to you again. But now I must go to bed. I have to be up for a pick-up at 06.50.
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