Surfers Paradise Day 2 Pt 2

We went into a 711 shop and bought a Go Card each for tram, bus and train travel in South East Queensland. The card costs $10 and then you need to put some credit on the card. R's card cost $5 and we both put $20 on the cards, which turned out to be too much for R and not enough for me. We caught the tram to the northern terminus called University Hospital and there was nothing to see there. I was sure we had to leave the tram, touch our cards off and get back on the tram. R said we shouldn't bother. I insisted and the machine showed transfer. I don't know what that meant in the context. Ticket checkers boarded the tram and checked our cards on the return journey and all was in order. We went one stop further than where we boarded and we were at Q1, a residential tower. Q1 was completed in 2005 and so it is now 10 years old. It was briefly the tallest residential building in the world. We bought tickets to travel to the observation deck, deciding to buy the more expensive ticket to make a second visit that evening after dark. "Two seniors is it guys?" "Err, no one adult and one senior". "Are you sure?" "Yes." Well that was a hint if ever there was one. At times R is asked to show his seniors card but not too often. I would be so embarrassed if I claimed to be a senior, that is someone over 60 who works less than 35 hours a week and was then asked for my card, which I could not produce. I am two years short and at times it feels like 10 hours of work too much. At another attraction, the same thing happened when I hesitated to confessing I should pay full fare and the lass said, of course you both are, and charged the cheaper price. I think I paid $35 for the day and night visit and R about $22. In the future I will corrupt my morality and honesty and try it on for the senior's price.

A friend's parents who we have met live in the Q1 building, so I immediately took a phone snap and sms'd it to her. "Guess where we are?" I was doubtful about the views until we reached the observation floor. The views were terrific and if it was the last day of our visit I would know more of what we were seeing. Looking north with Nerang River to the left.

Zoomed a bit, still looking north.

A closer view to the immediate north.

Now looking south with the tram line wriggling its way along.

To the west.

Grace, how are you feeling so far? Have I tipped you over the edge now with these mad folk on the outsiide of the building? Pun not meant.

Looks like a horse racing course.

A sign informed us that the Gold Coast has nine times the length of canals in comparison to Venice.

There is our hotel. We needed a cold drink and we were a bit hungry. An iced coffee would have done, but the only close option was a coffee frappe for the outrageous price of $8 each.

A camera or recording of the external lift roof view shows the lift travel while you are within the lift.

Back on the ground, we walked back to our hotel along The Esplanade

The building with the mast to left is Q1, where we had just been. The one in the foreground is called Soul.

Soul is close to the beach front and by 3pm was already shadowing the beach.

I forget what the kiddies were doing, but they were have fun.

Lifesavers had zoomed along the water to a halfway point, left the boat and were having a word with a couple standing on the beach. I don't know why. Maybe something has been stolen.

The late afternoon shadows were lengthening as this old car passed by.

We had decided to visit the casino for dinner and spend a dollar or two in pokie machines. The tram took us there with a helpful announcement where to alight, which I already knew. But once off the tram, there was no indication. I had already checked where the building was, off to the right of this photo. Look, a monorail, but how to catch it? What a useless piece of infrastructure, surely privately owned.

Maybe there are some useful monorails in the world, but I have never come across one.

I wasn't sure about this walk way, or how to get to the beginning of it. Instead we used a footpath which in a way was better as we saw bats and heard strange bird noises. I later overheard that either is the same distance.

The casino, like most, was gaudy and glitzy. We had an ok meal with what I must say was excellent service. I chose nasi goreng, which came not mixed together like I am used to, but in separate parts, piled onto fried rice with condiment on the side. My $5 pokie investment returned $25. R's $20 investment returned -$20.

We caught the tram back to Q1 for a quick circuit of the observation deck.

We walked back to the hotel and strolled along Cavill Avenue mall.

This was outside our hotel. I was not the only one to take a photo. I think we see more of this style of American car in Australian in a week than we did for the whole of our Canada/US visit.

Bicycle rickshaws for hire come out at night, always playing music, often reggae. Our taxi driver for the airport trip disliked them with some vehemence.