Sunday 27th October 2002

Got up at at 05.30 AM (- 1h, Sydney just swithced to daylight savings time), checked out from Le Meridien, taxi to Sydney domestic airport for flight to Brisbane at 08.05 AM.

Lousy weather in Brisbane (cloudy, rainy, windy).
Picked up rental car (white Toyota Camry) at airport, driving left proves strange in the beginning. There are practically no roadsigns in advance but only at the junction itself ...

so we missed an exit ... but still got there where we needed to go.

Checked in at Ibis at about 10.30 AM.
Took walk along George street passing prominent buildings of Brisbane:
The Supreme Court (modern building), The Conrad International Treasury Casino, The Mansions, The Queensland Club (men only).
Walked through the Botanic Gardens, encounters some odd creatures and strolled along the mangrove boardwalks, along the Brisbane River.
Went down to the Sunday food & craft market at the Waterfront Place and Pier. Had lunch at the food court. Walked towards Queen Street Mall, Brisbane's major shopping area, combining several malls like the 19th century Brisbane Arcade, Broadway on the Mall and the huge Myer Centre. Luckily we were able to shop without getting too wet, because practically every shop had an 'overhead outcrop' ... not good for the wallet though ;-)

We got back to the hotel around 04.00 PM. It had really started to poor down by then. We went out anyway in search of dinner but decided to settle for some tastless crap from a 7/11 shop ('Cup a Noodles' ;-). According to the news the weather should improve tomorrow ... but at the moment it is still pooring down. They desperatley needed rain out here ... Good for the farmers' crops and the plants in the gardens ... Bad for our photos (memories). But even in this horrible weather, we could still see Brisbane as a pleasant city. According to our guide, it enjoys the most sunny days a year in the whole of Australia ... Yeah right!

Hope you enjoy the pics and journal so far.
We'll keep you posted.

Ta,
Radica & JJ