Brissie

Brisbane, Australia

Wow!  Right off the bat, the rooms were absolutely amazing!  I felt like I was actually living in a home or well apartment.  There was space, we could spread out, we could open the windows, we could even wash our clothes in our own apartment space!  I know some of those things seem minuet to most, but to us they are a blessing. 

We were right in the heart of things; a Winter Foods Festival where there was an outdoor ice rink, close range of shopping of all sorts, and even trails and Botanical Gardens.  And if that wasn’t enough, we even had a space to BBQ at the hotel!  It was almost so good that you didn’t want to get out and see the city, but we did.

The Botanical Gardens made for a nice place to start a run.  The towering palms trees and medium bushes offered shade and a place to escape city traffic.  If you were daring enough you could run along the edge of the water, but be careful; there isn’t a rail to keep you out of the water if you happen to lose your footing. 

Winding my way across a pedestrian bridge I found myself gazing down into a dry dock and the Brisbane wheel and a short distance away I was shaded from the warmth of the sun under vines of beautiful purple flowers.  

As the sun flickered into the spaces that leaves did not cover completely, I made my way to Southbank where swimming holes were still open!   There were small rainforest adventures, watering holes, and views of the city that were lined with tiled mosaics built into the sidewalks. 

I can’t believe that this is their winter here in Australia! 

And even though we had quite the hike to get to the arena this week, a 45-minute bus ride, it was still in a great area.  Surrounded by other sports facilities and parks, the arena was in prime location.  There may not have been much around, but it was peaceful and we had a chance to get outside and soak up some rays. 

I’m pretty sure that with the accommodations we had for the week and the sunshine that we all would have been content staying here instead of moving south to colder temperatures. 

The Steel City

Newcastle, Australia

                                      

Similar to Pittsburgh, but south of the equator, in New South Wales territory; Newcastle also used to be known for its production of steel.  The mills have since then have been closed in 1999, but still line the waterways as landmarks and reminders of the city’s past. 

And to my surprise Newcastle, Australia (1804) was founded before Newcastle, U.K. (1882) which we also performed in this year; the only show to play the same-named city in the same tour year.

And while this small town is up for some renovating, it is all coming very quickly with the approach of the Formula 1 race scheduled to debut in the city in September 2017.    

The city’s facelift has already begun in some places and there is a noticeable difference between the buildings and architecture in town versus along the Honeysuckle Wharf.  The wharf is comprised of modern cafes, restaurants, and hotels.  There is even a Cold Rock!  It is just like Cold Stone in the states.

Trails branched off in both directions taking you to either a small quiet path along the Hunter River winding behind rows of town houses or to Newcastle and Nobby Beach.   

Nobby’s Head not only had a light house and a jetty, but the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.  On one side of the jetty the sun painted the sky in shades of orange and looking out in the opposing direction, rain seemed to move in.  It was the most amazing thing to see as a rainbow formed in the distance and the sky began to change to shades of pinks and purples and the waves swelled.  I didn’t want to put my camera down for fear I may miss the perfect shade of orange or blue.  Time stood still, everything seemed to slow down and nature’s beauty took center stage.  It was absolutely breathtaking. 

I wish I had more time to watch the sun rise and set just one more time in Novacastrian country. 

The Gong

Wollongong, Australia

To be honest I feel a bit like I am on spring break right now. The waves are crashing off the coast, the golfers are out swinging away, the surfers are riding the waves, the sun is shining, and the temperature is rising.  I could get used to winters like this. 

We are literally right on the beach this week if you haven’t guessed and it is absolutely amazing.  We are away from all the hustle bustle of the city traffic. 

And I don’t know about you, but I still get excited to see lighthouses.  I mean that’s probably because I don’t actually recall ever seeing one to be honest and there were two!  There was a smaller original lighthouse constructed close to the Wollongong Port until the shipping area grew and the Flagstaff Point Lighthouse was built. 

Having trails leading us directly there or to the beach, it made for the perfect get-a-way.  And even though seeing everything in the sun was nice and we got a little sun-kissed, the scenery at dusk was magnificent. 

It was the perfect temperature for an evening run, taking me back to my college days.  The sun was just beginning to set, the sky was changing colors like those in a painting, the waves were rolling in, the breeze had a slight chill, and the animals were starting to settle in for the night. 

Before I knew it, the sun had gone to bed for the night and the stars began to shine.  I found myself looking up, trying not to miss a moment of it, in search of the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt and then I realized I was under a different set of starts.  For the first time ever, I was in a realm under different constellations just gazing up at pure amazement.  What a sight to see!

It’s moments like these that make you really appreciate your journey through life. 

The Capital

Adelaide, Australia

This city is actually the capital of South Australia and is known as a planned city.  It was designed by the region’s first surveyor-general, Colonel William Light, who arranged the city into a grid design of five squares containing the Adelaide city center in one region and then surrounding it with a ring of parks. 

The city itself, it going through rebuilding times as jobs are coming and going from the area, but the locals argue that it is the best city in Australia. 

It seems quant and smaller than Perth, which was a city cut off from life outside the city, with the Outback on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.  However, Adelaide did provide home to 114,000 koalas and some of which we were able to get close enough to nuzzle into their soft, cozy fur at the Cleland Wildlife Conservation Park. 

While we were standing in line and feeding the occasional Ki Kangaroos and Bandicoots, I learned that Koalas actually aren’t bears and they are marsupials.  They also solely rely on eucalyptus leaves for food, which literally have no nutritional value.  So, while they may consume up to 10 percent of their body weight in these leaves a day, they will still sleep the remainder of the time to make up in the lack of nutrition they receive from doing so.  Koalas are also known for not having very good eye sight so it is important to touch them in the lower back area if you are near one or just let it be so you don’t frighten it.  They do however, have a keen sense of hearing to make up for their lack of eye sight.  Therefore, any loud noises tend to alarm these animals. 

And while koalas are on strict schedules at the park, the Lorikeets, Ki Kangaroos, Dingoes, and Red Kangaroos live normal lives and some even roam freely throughout the park itself. 

While the park was a nice escape into nature, we made it back just in time to be sheltered from the rain in our roomy-fully furnish apartment-style rooms.  It was so nice to have full kitchens this week and small porch-like balconies! 

And with the extra space, it was the prime time to have a few gatherings and share our yummy homemade food!

Until next time; Toodle-oo.