First day in Brisbane.

Quantas flight was about 13.5 hrs to Brisbane overnight. This was a huge airbus jam packed to the rafters with people and luggage. Wow...the staff work hard on these flights. They turn off the lights and keep them off for most of the trip. When you arrive in Brisbane you can't wait to get off the plane.

Brisbane customs is thorough. They have search dogs and x-rays for your bags - after you arrive. A few of the young North American travelers to the Gold Coast or 'surfers paradise' looked a little nervous going through the rigorous check points. They're not kidding here!

The city was one of the largest penal colonies in Australia. It's built along the river. A young city with lot's of international students. There is also an old colonial architectural section that has a feel of Savannah or the 'old south'. Some of the buildings remind me of Queens Park. Grand old clubs and botanical gardens with wrought iron fences define the green space in the center of town. We walked through the historical botanical garden after we arrived while waiting for our room to be available. The pictures don't capture the wonderful sounds of the tropical birds and the sweet smells of the flowering trees. Lots of Ibis birds hogging all the bread crumbs.