EC-Rider Travels

My roomie had to leave fairly promptly in the morning and is now safely back in Sydney. I spent the happiest morning watching the pre-professional students at the Queensland Ballet Academy, being taught by a lovely friend of Lindsay’s, Claire Phipps. In the break, we popped into the ballet office, which overlooks the studio where the Company were taking class and one of my former RBS students, a gorgeous New Zealand dancer called Brooke Ray, spotted me and came running up to see me. So touching and lovely to have a quick catch up with her.

I then walked back along the River which was bordered by very nice, looking modern apartments blocks, rowing clubs, outdoor gyms, etc barely seeing a soul apart from a few lycra clad exercisers. The main modes of transport seem to be either a bicycle or preferably, a motorised scooter. There were a number of amazing pieces of street art along the way, particularly under bridges.

I was heading for the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art known as GOMA. This was another stunning contemporary gallery with incredible space for extraordinary pieces of art. There was again an impressive collection of indigenous art, which I have come to rather love.

There was a special exhibition entitled Air which had some extraordinary pieces including some more incredible mirrored spheres by Tomas Saraceno similar to those in MONA in Hobart. My favourite was a huge untitled piece by two indigenous artists made out of feathers, shells, emu eggs, stones, kangaroo bone, string and wood made with traditional tools. It curved around a wall looking like a flock or is it a murmuration, of birds.

I then walked to the QPAC – the Queensland Performing Art Centre – in the hope they might be performing a play I was longing to see, but sadly not. However I did fall upon the most wonderful wildlife photographic exhibition/competition, which was a bit of a treat.

My legs were giving out at this point, as indeed was my telephone battery, and as I needed this to find my way home, I thought I should head back to the hotel. I also had an important date with the Dirty Girls – it was so lovely to speak to them. Lilla in Worcestershire, Emma in Suffolk, Lucinda in Seville and Me in Brisbane – magic really. Sitting happily in this rather nice hotel, I realised that this evening is the first I have had alone since I was in Guatemala exactly three months ago. Rather strange for someone who thought she was travelling alone! Night Night!