Yet another exceptional day for Brisbane weather. It is sunny and in the low 80's with just a hint of humidity. The breeze along the river made it even nicer. We walked through the park to get to the riverside path. When we got there we saw a huge ship launching into the river. It looked more like a floating dock or a floating restaurant. It turns out to be the YOT Club. Rated for occupancy of 400 people with two bars and a stage and a dance floor. Move over for this behemoth. Little Red Dumplings called out to us on our way home so we stopped in for more goodness. Then we came back to the apartment to shower and run a load or two of wash. Next was the tree lighting in City Hall Square. This was a big to do with a stage, video screens and lots of people. Starting at 6 PM a choir sang Christmas songs, then more music by the Seven Sopranos and finally some acrobatics by elves. We got to talk to Michael a New Zealander who now lives in the West End and who sat next to us. The kids were delighted by the costumed characters walking around, gingerbread man, reindeer, candy canes and such, Leslie loved it too. The music was great, the people watching was fun and the tree was magnificent.
A very fun swing set
A treasure box? It was sitting on a mud flat and we chose not to investigate
The river trail at low tide
Propping up the trees
This beast is big, really big
It really is like a floating restaurant
Off upriver to who knows where
One of the oldest buildings in Brisbane part of the penal colony
Almost 200 years old
Old Queen Victoria herself
Reminds me of the Othello game
Nothing says Christmas like spicy shrimp strips
The early bird gets to sit and wait for the tree lighting
Candy canes on stilts
Reindeer and helpers
More candy canes
Lots of folks came out...
to see the show and sing along
Toy soldiers
The choir sang for a half hour
Dance moves were included
First the Elves had a comedy routine
Then they became the acrobatic Elves
Ta da!
The Seven Sopranos
Michael was from New Zealand and we talked to him for some time
You can see the interpreter signing behind the singers
It is lit up!
