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!