Brisbane

Arrival in Brisbane

Arrived late in the evening in Brisbane with a Virgin Australia flight from Perth (I had reached Perth with an Ethiad flight from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where I had arrived with an Alitalia flight from Rome). Having taken a taxi, we reached our hostel on Roma Street where we had booked a double room with bathroom. Unfortunately my travel companion's credit card wasn't working, so we left 200 Euros at reception as a guarantee while waiting to change Australian dollars the next day. Tired from the journey, we retired for the night.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

During the night the fire alarm surprisingly went off. Hurriedly we got out of bed, running into the street and joining the other guests of the hostel. Here we learned that it was a drill, complete with two fire engines that had arrived. Shortly after, in fact, they let us go back in and we fell asleep again. The following morning we went on foot to the centre of Brisbane where we first changed the money and then had breakfast in a supermarket of the Seven chain. Near the main street we took the bus to Lone Pine, where the Koala Sanctuary is located. In this kind of zoo, probably the main attraction of the city, there are not only koalas as the name would suggest. Here we saw numerous kangaroos scampering freely on a lawn where it was possible to approach them and stroke them. There were also emus, tropical birds, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, monitor lizards, wombats and even a platypus.

The must, however, remains the koalas, with which it is even possible to have a photo taken. There are many of them but for the most part they sleep on the eucalyptus branches. Back in the centre by bus, we walked along the pedestrian street which, as evening fell, was crowded. We visited souvenir shops and an ethnic street food stall where the gastronomies of numerous Nations were represented. After eating something (for lunch we had contented ourselves with a fruit salad at Lone Pine), we walked back to the hostel.

Brisbane

My travel companion isn't feeling very well, so I go out alone and head to the shopping mall right next to our accommodation. The Centre is big and modern; there are restaurants, a supermarket and a cinema where the Italian Film Festival is currently running. The supermarket has everything, including lots of Italian products. Before leaving, I took a look at the hostel where we're staying, checking that on the top floor we have a small pool and a big kitchen complete with a dining hall. Near our room, on the other hand, there's the laundry, where I washed the dirty clothes. The guests are all very young and we're the exception. This morning, going to reception, I discovered that they were giving away crepes with honey with every drink at the bar, so I had breakfast there with a tea. My friend took advantage of it too, then went back to bed.

The guy making the crepes on the terrace wasn't very skilled at it. He was from Puglia, paying for his accommodation by doing odd jobs for the hostel. Maybe seeing him made me want to cook too, and that's why at the supermarket I bought spaghetti and a jar of pesto alla genovese. Back at the hostel I went straight to the kitchen and made pasta with pesto; then, once plated, I called my friend for lunch. We ate with gusto. Unfortunately we couldn't swim in the pool because it was under maintenance. In the afternoon my travel companion preferred to stay in the room while I went into the centre. First thing, I visited the Queensland Museum, where there was a temporary exhibition dedicated to dinosaurs represented by life-size automata, crafted down to the smallest detail.

Then I visited the museum halls dedicated to the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the South Pacific, to Australia's endemic animals and to the various phases of the island's colonisation. The museum is extremely well curated and pleasant. Among other things, I saw in a display case a giant octopus preserved in alcohol. After leaving the museum, I walked along the pedestrian bridge that crosses a wide avenue and leads to the modern Opera House and the riverside. This is an area that was redeveloped for the international Expo a few years ago. It's Saturday afternoon and it's full of families strolling along a zigzag avenue, sunbathing in the gardens or lying on the artificial little beaches, swimming in the long pools that follow the course of the Brisbane River.

There are children's games, curious fountains, a little market and an open-air arena where the city's Indian community is holding a celebration. The symbol of the entire leisure area is the tall Ferris wheel, visible from various points in the city. Many people, though, also take photos in front of the huge BRISBANE sign placed in a garden not far from the wheel. People are entertained by a small band and a juggler. Crossing the bridge, I return to the other side of the city for a stroll along the pedestrian mall. Here too there's a small band playing and a few street artists. I go back to the souvenir shop where I'd been the day before, then with a short walk I return to the hostel, where I reunite with my friend. A little later I go back into the centre, this time with my travel companion, to get something for dinner. We end up having a snack at a Seven warehouse.

We then return to the hostel for the night.

Departure from Brisbane

After checking out, we leave the hostel with the minibus booked at reception the night before. Once we arrive at the city airport, we check in and reach the gate. While waiting for the flight, we eat a fruit salad. We then set off for Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu (see the relevant itinerary).