Last day in Brisbane

It’s our last day in Brisbane and it’s hard to not just focus on getting on the plane tomorrow.  We decide to go for a walk down to the Race Course which is quite close to our motel.

This is Racecourse Road which under normal circumstances would be very busy.  Lots of nice shops and restaurants.

At the end of the road is the entrance to the Race Course.

Dates back to 1913.

Part of the grandstands.

Out exercising the horses.

Those trees again.  So amazing and they’re everywhere.

We then head back down to the river.

Pretty quiet at Portside.

And we head to Brett’s Wharf.

And catch the next ferry.

It’s turning into a lovely day.  One of the men that works on the ferry is Joe and he does a running commentary as we glide down the river.  

It’s quite a long route but a great way of seeing a large part of Brisbane.

We come back to Portside to admire the lights after dark.

Beautiful.

The next morning we are up early to catch the shuttle from our motel to the airport where our chariot arrives.  Only 300 people.  Thought it would be larger but it’s full to capacity and we’re on our way home.  Goodbye Brisbane!,

And I’m home at last.  Enjoying ? self isolation with my quarantini!  I hope to return to finish the part of this trip that we missed but until then I’m glad to be back home to ride out this Coronavirus 19 storm.

Brisbane

Arriving in Brisbane we take taxi to our motel which is close to the airport but approximately 20 minutes from downtown.  At this stage of the Coronavirus all restaurants are closed and only a few are selling take out.  After dropping our suitcases we head to Portside Wharf to see what we can find for dinner.  There are some lovely shops and restaurants but most are closed. There is an IGA (thank heaven) so we pick up some things for breakfast and then get some Chinese takeout.  Back at the motel we eat our Chinese takeout and enjoy a couple of glasses of white wine!  We make the most of our situation.

The next day we have a leisurely morning with coffee in bed and then we fix a breakfast of yogurt, fruit and croissant.  Very tasty.  This bowl that I bring when I travel has never seen so much use.  Glad I have it.

We walk to Brett’s Wharf where we catch the catamaran ferry down the river to downtown Brisbane.

It’s an overcast day but warm.  Actually quite comfortable for walking around.

The old with the new.

It’s quite a beautiful city.  Very walkable.

After visiting the pedestrian only shopping area of the Queen Street Mall we cross the Victoria bridge to south Brisbane.  Here there is the Art Gallery, Museum and Performing Arts Centre all of which are closed.

Lovely facilities.

There is a huge project going on that willl be completed by 2022.  We counted 8 cranes just in this one area.

The Wheel of Brisbane.  Closed.

The Rainforest walk.

Then we arrive at Brisbane’s man made Streets Beach.  It’s gorgeous and I can just imagine families enjoying this.

But it’s closed.

We go in search of food.  Nothing is open and then we find Nandos and they are doing take out.  We buy a couple of salads with chicken and find a bench to sit and eat because you are not allowed to eat in a restaurant or on their patio.   It was very tasty but far from the picture I saw of us leisurely dining at a restaurant with a glass of wine overlooking the river!  I think my expression says it all.

Pretty quiet and empty.  It’s rather surreal.  I’m seeing Brisbane but not the real Brisbane. So many places closed and with that goes people’s jobs.

We then hop on the ferry to head back to our motel.  It’s lovely being able to get in to town this way rather than bus.  Safer too.

The Wool Store.

I just love the trees in Australia.

Tonight another gourmet meal...luckily the seafood restaurant called Samie’s is only a five minute walk so I pick up fish and chips, pour myself a glass of white wine and watch the news update on the Coronavirus in our motel room.  Not exactly how I saw myself in Brisbane but we are making the most of it.  I hope to redo this when I return to Australia and then do it up in style!

Last full day in Canberra

After a leisurely start to our day we decide to walk to the War Memorial Museum.  It’s about an hours walk.

We walk along side Lake Burley Griffin.  Lots of Sunday strollers on the pathway around the lake.

We then proceed to Anzac Park which heads to the War Memorial.

This is called the Anzac Parade.  On both sides there are memorials representing different battles.

Australian Service Nurses National Memorial

Australian Royal Navy

Boer War....these were so realistic.

Poppy memorial...while viewing this a young person’s voice could be heard reading a person’s name and age that had died in war.

Such an amazing memorial.  I haven’t seen anything this well done ever!  We spent a couple of hours here and it barely scratched the surface.  We were told they had warehouses of artifacts....96%...only 4% was used in the museum and it was so much it was incredible.  They had models of famous battles done with so much detail.

We go for a quick lunch and then the long walk back to our hotel.

I have to say I love the trees in Australia...especially the eucalyptus or gum trees.  Their trunks vary in colours and patterns.

Bark comes off and grows back at different times and speeds therefore giving the trees a very unique look.

Day two in Canberra

Even tough our thoughts are more about the Coronavirus we are still trying to see what we can of Canberra.  We just try to practice social distancing and avoid public transport.

The gardens of the hotel are quite nice.  They have had functions taking place both evenings so we haven’t been able to enjoy them as much as we would like. This evening there is a wedding taking place.

We head to Parliament House.  This is about a 30 minute walk from our hotel.

It’s built on the hill.  Picture doesn’t do it justice.

Inside Parliament House.

So much marble.

Looking from Parliament towards the War Memorial.

National Rose Garden

I do love the Aboriginal art. 

After a full day and lots of walking we head back to the hotel and put our feet up.