A Day in Brisbane

After 30 hours if traveling Jen and i couldn't be happier to get off the plane and outside in the fresh air..we're free at last!!!

The transit system in Brisbane is well connected and super convenient - the Air Link takes you directly from the airport into the city in less than 20 minutes. The larger stations like Fortitude Valley and Central Station are laid out as mini-centers, with food courts, shops and other outlets.

We opted to stay at The Miro Apartments in 'The Valley', an area just outside of downtown known for its nightlife and funky atmosphere.

Feeling pretty jetlagged we forced ourselves to freshen up and check out the city, with only 1 day here we might as well make the best of it.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has good reviews, just 12kms from the centre you can taxi, bus, or there's a scenic boat trip along the river that departs every day at 11. The Sanctuary offers the opportunity to cuddle a koala, pet kangaroos, as well as other wildlife and unique 'behind the scenes' experiences. It was getting a bit late in the afternoon to fit in so unfortunately no cuddling of koalas took place. 

Instead, we took a bus up to one of the ferry terminals and cruised up river checking out the Story Bridge, Southbank and ended downtown at Queenstreet. Another great thing with the transit system, the ticket includes use across the trains, buses and ferries making for an easy, inexpensive way to see the sights.

Queenstreet Mall is a large, vibrant outdoor/indoor complex filled with stores of all sorts, eateries, bars. I've decided that Australia has way better clothing stores than we have in Canada... If I had any room left in my bags I'd be taking full advantage.

 

In the evening Jen and I met up with a friend I met at Virtuoso Week a few

years ago...'Zip'...always nice to catch up with people on the other side of the world. 

Starting at at the Emporium Hotel for pre dinner cocktails - a gorgeous property, uptown-chic with cool lighting and accents - in a complex filled with various dining venues from casual Mexican to upscale Turkish. 

After dinner we headed up the street to Cloudland, one of Brisbane's most popular nightclubs, Thursday Salsa night with a live band...all I can say is WOW, what a place. Two levels, vines and plants coming down from the ceiling, crazy chandeliers, private booths with various decor...I can't even describe it. I really wish I wasn't so completely  exhausted with 'plane brain' and swollen ankles so I could embarrass myself with my awesome salsa moves on the dance floor! Men looking for dance partners started to be too much and we decided to head across the street to some place quieter...The Elixer is a cozy rooftop bar with its own character, Zip knows the owner and he joined us for a drink - some good laughs and conversation, a relaxing way to wind down at the end of the night.