If you happen to get to the Gold Coast which is located in Queensland Australia – or Surfer’s Paradise for that matter – you can look at a lot of tall buildings which seem to be just bursting with people. We saw a few younger people, but the impression that I received is that there are a significant number of retirees in the area. The name comes from the wealth in the area – not from gold mining or the color of the grass when the sun has been around too hot and bright without significant rain. If you want to view it as part of the Brisbane extended metro area – then you are looking at a combined population of 3 million.
(for the US crew – think Scottsdale, Palm Springs – only on the ocean. Maybe I should just tell you all to think of Florida but it doesn’t have that vibe). For one thing – there is actually public transportation through the town in the form of a tram + the mono rail… Did I mention theme parks? Ok, perhaps Florida is the better bet.
Anyway – we decided to go out to lunch. My lovely hosts took me to The Cardamon Pod As you might suspect, vegetarian all the way with versions of traditional pub/english food as well as Asian and Indian. And yes, there was “stuff” in various pastry doughs. The difference between here and the various attempts in New Zealand is that there was really filling – not 90% pastry!
We sat outside –
small visitor looking for crumbs
and relaxed. Walking back through Victoria Park
but no artist plaque
We spied this sculpture which turned out to be welded out of thousands upon thousands of 10 cm long pieces of what I think are likely stainless steel. The work is lovely, the welding fine. It would be really nice to know the reason for the horse in the park.
I crashed early. I’m packed and ready to catch my ship tomorrow. Just happens to be the small detail of the 0430 shuttle to the airport and a Virgin Australia flight before then….
