Have just left Brisbane after two weeks there. Our arrival coincided with the first ashes test so all the hostels where really busy and could sport an English sports tourist a mile off!!! Did manage to catch most of the ashes on the big screen down at the lagoon by the river. Brisbane is a nice city, big enough to have everything you need but small enough not to be overcrowded. I went to the XXXX brewert tour which was working 7 days a week during the Ashes (im sure the english managed to drink all this!!) and tried 3 different beers at the end of the tour. I also went on a city cat (a catamaren) up the Brisbane river. Went to the markets at Southbank and at Riverside. Went up to Mt Cootha to see the lookout over Brisbane and the botanic gardens near here. The first 10days the weather was very hot 30 degrees. had one storm late last week but only lasts a few hours and then clears. The day after the storm went to the city hall and went up the clock tower and it happened to be midday so saw and heard the bells ring, went in the old government houes to the cathedral and the anzac memorial. On Saturday went to the opening of the Art Gallery and Gallery of modern Art. On Sunday i went to watch the cycling grand prix at southbank. This was the Australian national criterium (where they do laps) championship. Robbie Mcewan one the mens race.

Left Brisbane this morning and after an hour arrrive in Surfers paradise