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.