After an eternity of about 13 hours flying from Vancouver to Brisbane, we disembark the plane at 7:00 am local time, cruise through immigration, baggage collection and customs, dump our bags at the Ibis Brisbane Airport Hotel and ride the Airtrain into downtown Brisbane. We are headed to the Gallery of Modern Art.
We have found that the best way to counter jet lag and the time zone difference, is to stay awake all day, and in order to accomplish this, we have to keep moving. So, the Art Gallery is our way to do it.
When we get to the Gallery of Modern Art, we are told that the 3rd floor is closed but the second floor has an exhibit or two. We wander up the stairs and view the rather spartan exhibits. Mmmm. We decide to go across the plaza to the Queensland Art Gallery. Don’t even get in the door as the security guard informs us it is closed to the public today. Oh oh, we are striking out with the art galleries today!
We decide to walk across the river towards Queen Street Mall, a pedestrian mall. On the way we walk by City Hall and see signs for MOB, Museum of Brisbane. We enter and tour through a photography exhibit, one on flowers and a few smaller exhibits. Well worth the stop.
Outside City Hall is a large tent with an exhibit of works created by folks with mental health issues. We are amazed at the number of works of art, some to our liking and some not. Many people enjoy the exhibit along with us.
The start of our search for art didn’t produce much but we ended with finding art in unusual places.
We walk slowly back across the river and to the train station with tired feet and foggy brains. Time to camp out at the hotel and try to stay awake until after supper.
