The Story of the Day

I'd like to say that I haven't blogged in a week because I've been working non-stop, or because nothing too exciting has been going on (ok, well, I probably wouldn't like that reason), but neither is the case.  I haven't worked at all this week, so it's turned in to a bit of a mini holiday.  Mark and I have kayaked on the river, picnicked in the gardens, and really been able to enjoy the great weather and the great city.

Today we climbed the Story Bridge, which is in the picture above.  The Story Bridge is a Brisbane landmark, and it's basically in our back yard.  Bridge climbing is not so close to home.  Apparently there are only three bridges in the world open for the public to climb - the Story Bridge, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and one in New Zealand. 

The climb was great.  We started on the left side of the bridge, and climbed to that peak. Then, we went half way across the bridge before looping back.  It's a shame that Mark and I were less than photogenic this morning, because the pictures would have been stellar.  Because bridge climbing is a dangerous activity, for the climbers and for the cars speeding along below, there were heaps of safety precautions.  Everyone was zipped into a lovely blue jumpsuit (read: prison garb).  You couldn't wear bobby pins, jewelery, or anything that could possibly fall onto the traffic below (including cameras).  Luckily everyone is subjected to the same humiliating outfit - it's probably really a team building exercise rather than a safety measure - although of course there was one woman in the group who managed to make a blue onesy look glamorous.  Bitch.

The view from the top of the bridge was beautiful.  Brisbane has a very unique landscape, not like any other places I've been, especially in America.  The city is set along a winding river, which makes three 180 degree turns, splitting the city into a number of peninsulas.  The ocean is just visible in the distance if you're up high enough, and on the other horizons here are mountains - a group of small mountains that look like a wall around the edge of the city, and three peaks that jut out of an otherwise flat area near the coast.  All in all, it comes together to make a gorgeous view.  

The weather here this week has been perfect - it's in the 80's or low 90's, and although it's humid, it's bearable.  One thing that's great about Brisbane is how outdoors oriented the city is.  Bars, shops, and malls are all open-air, with tarps and tents at the ready in case it rains.  Even gyms and trainers take advantage of the weather - I've been working out with a training company that runs boxing and bootcamp classes in parks around the city.  I know the unbearable heat will come, but I'm trying psych myself up for it and not let it get the best of me.  I'm not ready to give up Brisbane outdoors.

And Picnicking

Paddling