Where to start? Well, Ferries. Not only does a river run through it (the city, that is), but the public transportation system includes ferries that run up and down the river! The ferry is pretty cool during the day, but even more amazing at night, when you get to cruise under the cities (seven?) bridges with a light wind in your face and lights sparkling up at you off the water. They light up some of the buildings along the riverbank, too - last night the old Treasury building was a deep cobalt, to which the orange pedestrian bridge acted as a visual foil.
Of course, the ferries addition to buses and trains (trains!). How cool is that? To get from A to B you can think to yourself, "hmm, do I feel like taking the bus, train or ferry?"
Although not technically a part of public transportation, there are also amazing bike paths up the river banks. Separated at most points from both car traffic and pedestrians, they line the river for all of the downtown area and in great swathes radiating out towards the suburbs. I spent most of the past few days negotiating these bike paths, biking partly just for the joy of having a warm breeze in your face and sunshine around you. Its a great way to explore the river bank, where public art and parks abound.
Thought Brisbane was bike-friendly? There's more! Not only are the bike paths throughout the city as well as on the river bank, but part of Brisbane bike-friendly initiatives include a city-run bike lending program as well. Similar to those found in cities like Barcelona, you sign up for a year and then can check bikes in and out of bike stations whenever you want. It only costs 45 AUD a year (plus usage charges) and they even give you a helmet! This might help combat the fact that I saw mostly lycra-clad men on fancy, fancy bikes using the bike paths - from the looks of it commuter cycling isn't exactly de riguer yet.
Oh, and then there's the public art. Its everywhere. I mean really, everywhere. Lining the river, on corners, on electrical boxes (apparently 900 have been painted), at random intersections, on the ground... its an amazing display of creativity, and seems to be a key aspect of the city's identity. Now, I'm not sure if it was always this way, but there sure is a heck of a lot of art around now, and its absolutely lovely (I'll put some photos up when I get them off my computer, promise). In addition to art outside, there is also a huge amount of art available to the public in museums and galleries. And they're free! Many, many free places to go and enjoy some art, like the lovely Queensland Art Gallery with its range of Australian art from colonial days through the present. I was particularly stunned by the palette of colors used by the Australian Impressionists - no doubt taken from the Australian landscape.
Stay tuned for more museum reports! I'm not nearly done.
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