Today we did the Brisbane city tourist thing. Being an ex-resident, I have never really done it because I didn't see the point.
Mum dropped us off at the Riverside markets so we had a bit of a sticky beak there before wandering through the Botanic Gardens to my old University, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) (pictured). I haven't set foot in the place for many a year. It hasn't changed much, but there are a few subtle differences, the biggest being a bridge over the river connecting it to South Bank. (I seem to remember testing our aeronautical design skills by throwing our paper planes off the civil engineering building into the river about where the bridge is now.) It was all a bit nostalgic but it was cool to see my old stomping ground. I'm so glad I am not studying any more.
South Bank
After the trip down nostalgia lane, we wandered across the new bridge
to South Bank and had a bit of a look at the goings on. I think there
is usually stuff going on over there, but being a public holiday
tomorrow, it was cranked up a notch. It is Budda's birthday today, so
there was a bunch of Chinese cultural stuff on display. We found a nice
little cafe to have lunch & headed off to Catch the City Cat.
City Cat
Brisbane, like some other harbour/river cities, have some really slick ferries. Brisbane's ferries are called the City Cats (above). Great smooth ride, and fast! It took us all the way up river to the University of Queensland. It beats driving along Coronation drive fighting with other cars under Lord Mayor Jim's lights.
We also saw the Kookaburra Queen. (I think there are actually 2 or 3 of them). The old Pioneer Concrete works is in the background.
Mt Cootha Lookout
To finish off the day, we took a drive up to the My Cootha Summit Lookout. With clear skies, the city was lit up like a Christmas tree.
