Everything in Australia wants to kill you - part 3

This time it's the heat.  It's incredibly hot in Brisbane this day.  35 Celsius is 95 Fahrenheit.

Our ship was docked in another commercial port, a 40 minute ride into the city.  Our art and architecture tour was part bus and part walking tour.  We had scheduled to start at 10 AM, but hopped on with an earlier group.  During a ride around the city our guide talked about the current move to preserve older buildings but coming too late for some.  In the midst of Australia's building boom, it's heartening to see preserved buildings interspersed among or incorporated in the new. 

Driving through the residential area the guide pointed out the iconic Queensland style house.  I didn't get a chance to take a picture, but it looks like a cross between Victorian and Prairie style.
Let's see if I can find one on Google.





In the outskirts of town a road winds up Mt. Coot-tha where we overlook The Brisbane River as it winds through the city.  Unfortunately, it was a hazy day and visibility was poor.

Back in the city for the walking part of the tour.  By now it's really heating up and some of the older folks drop out and shuttle back to the ship.  We stick with the walkers and try to stay in the shade of the buildings.  The Central Business District is very inviting with its colorful arcades running from one street to another and with the Queen Street Mall which is closed to traffic and has stores ranging from Gucci to Target.

At the end of the tour we crossed the Victoria Bridge and headed to the South Bank area and Parklands on the other side of the Brisbane River.  Parklands is an arts district with a performing arts complex, gardens, shaded trails, an air conditioned Ferris wheel, a public swimming pool and outdoor cafes.

Time for a beer.

Back to Anzac Square and the shuttle to the ship.

That's our last big city in Australia.  I rank them from most favorite to least favorite (Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne) but I liked them all.