1. – 21. January

Finally the first entry in 2010!!! We spent the first three weeks in Brisbane not able to do much due to Tom’s back problems. I just discovered the both sides of the Brisbane River and told Tom about my experiences.

But not all was done alone – we’ve visited the Police Museum which is located in the Police Headquarters. It displays how the police developed over the years in Queensland – from just a little outpost near the river and “tent-stations in the outback” to what it is now. They even had a motorcycle on display which you could climb and start the lights. One section was devoted to the unsolved crimes and how a crime scene is established.

Close to the Police Museum is the Roma Street Parklands a beautiful landscaped garden featuring different plants – you could easily spent half a day.  In some parts you really have to watch your steps – the water-dragons appear out of now where and 

they are everywhere. Listen to some kind of music is made easy – just play the Japanese Harp. You have to get water dropping over a stone while the water is dropping put your ear to the tube and you can actually hear it – fascinating.

As we like railways the railway workshop in Ipswich was a must visit. The museum had “Thomas the tank engine” as a special theme so most trains had a face on and they had other signs up. You could even drive a train yourself –

standing at the controls and playing the railway simulator. They offered some behind the scenes tours and you had to go with a special designed machine into the workshop area.

Do you know what XXXX stands for? We do as we did the XXXX-brewery tour. Mr Fourex told us that this was a sign to establish the beer quality and it was the bet quality you could get around 1880 when this brewery started. After the tour which lasted around 1.5h going through the theory of brewing and through packaging line as well we had time to taste some (4) of the beers. We tried Summer Breeze (a special summer brew), a dark brew (quite strong) and a Hahn. Yes, they brew Hahn beer as well as Toohey’s and XXXX. It was a day well spent and don’t worry I’m still  able to count – I had a two Summer Breeze.

You can enjoy Brisbane’s river and skyline differently – cruise the river with the river cat or the ferries, walk along the river side or even go into a Ferris Wheel in the Southbank Parklands. We enjoyed our trip at night – in fully enclosed air-conditioned cabins going up to 60m. Several buildings and some bridges are lit at night – they change the colour from green, purple, red to blue and back to green.

CU, Anja and Tom