Brisbane, QLD


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

THE BIG SMOKE

A slang term for "the city" is "the big smoke". We went into the big smoke to meet friends for lunch. We agreed to meet at the Gallery of Modern Art's cafe overlooking the river. Our friends had a meeting with their financial adviser first so we went to the new Apple Shop to sort a problem with our iPad, then we had to visit the Medicare Office to claim for TOH's cataract op. Unfortunately, by the time we met our friends and had lunch we didn't have enough time to spend in GoMA. It is our favourite gallery. However, I took some shots of the cultural centre of Brisbane using my repaired lens.  
 After our business was finished we walked over the Victoria Bridge to the cultural centre

 Then we walked along the bank of the river.

We passed the museum,

 the Digital Cultural Centre,

evidence that the Art Gallery was close by,
 
   
the Art Gallery's outdoor sculptures,

and the State Library of Queensland.

 We walked through the Library breezeway to the Gallery of Modern Art's outside cafe.

 There to greet us was an elephant standing on its head.

 After a delicious fish lunch we walked back the Queensland Performing Arts Centre where we caught the bus home.
The Cultural Centre bus station.

24 comments:

  1. I love all the sculptures, but the elephant especially. Your repaired lens takes great photos!

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  2. Beautiful city, Diane. Where does it get the name, Big Smoke? It's certainly not smokey like many of our cities here. Brisbane is just gorgeous!!!!

    Sounds like you had a great time even if you didn't get to go to the museum. You got some great photos. Elephant standing on its head???????? Interesting.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. neat sculptures!!!

    i like that - the big smoke. :)

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  4. the outdoor sculpture with the buildings in the background and the last shot of the tall buildings are my favorites. that is something i don't get to see, our tallest building here is 9 floors... and there are only 3 or 4 of them... a wonderful outing

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  5. I've never heard the term "big smoke." Your architectural snaps of the city made me feel as though I was there with you. I enjoyed my walk - and the lunch.

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  6. ah, great walk, bought back memories; love the arty things; Brisbane is a lovely city

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  7. We'll need to go back to spend some time inside GoMA. I want to see the present exhibits. We might just have lunch there again. TOH.

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  8. I really like the second photo and the wire sculpture is very interesting.

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  9. Diane, it is a beautiful city. I like the river walk and the museums. The elephant on its head is cute. Thanks for sharing your day, great shots.

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  10. What a lovely city it is! And as you know from experience 'the big smoke' would sure fit a certain big city in this country. Actually more than one.

    I love that you got to have lunch with your friends and tour all that lovely park and sculpture area instead of just doing business stuff ! Makes it a good day instead of a chore.

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  11. Oh now that would be fun I think Toronto Ontario in Canada is also called the Big Smoke. B

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  12. The elephant on it's head is bloody marvellous I have not seen this before but it is so unusual, loved all the photos I pretty much live in the big smoke as Newie is a pretty large place

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  13. I'm very impressed with "The Big Smoke". Brisbane is a beautiful city. I like the outdoor sculpture and the blue elephant. I would say that your repaired lens is working very well.

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  14. I love the art and outdoor sculptures you managed to see. The elephant is amazing! Glad your lens is working so well after being repaired.

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  15. That is a big city indeed with all those skyscrapers.They made a piece of art between the electric wires? I like the blue elephant too.

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  16. You broke your lens in your camera, how did you do that?
    The photos came out well...and of course being Australian I have heard of the big smoke :)

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  17. Love the elephant standing on his head, lol !

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  18. The Big Smoke looks like a clean city. I have to ask if the lines are power lines with a design or just an art piece?
    I've read the other comments but my impressions were that 'big smoke' might be an Aussie term and could be for any 'city'. You'll have to forgive me, I haven't felt well this week and my brain is a little foggy. :)
    Great set of cityscapes!

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  19. Loved this. Especially the elephant. I'd love to see it all. I have a friend who is going to Melbourne for 18 months. Is that close? Guess I could look on a map. :)

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  20. I went to yr big smoke and saw your elephant. Then I cross the bridge and got lost. Very big smoke indeed, coming from small New Zealand.

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  21. Love your animals in the city shot.

    Not a lot of money back from Medicare. Certainly not with my hubbies case which seemed to cost twice as much as mine.

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  22. Thank you for sharing your blue skies. I have no idea what grass and leaves look like anymore.

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