From the big island. But not THAT big island.

July 2, 2014

A city defined by a river.  As it meanders it’s way about the city,  oblivious to the straight lines preferred by humans,  so too do I find myself less focused on which way I might go so much as where I stood each moment.  I had made no plans to get from the airport to my hotel.  Didn’t even know what might be involved in making that decision.  Then I met a friend on the plane.  She was renting a car.  Did I want a ride?  I certainly did and what a joyous ride.  As she chanted ‘stay on the left, look to the right,’ we buzzed along an intermingled set of roads reading from a hand drawn map (rental car agencies apparently don’t have maps here) while listening to siri give opposing directions.  We laughed, she chanted, siri repeatedly told us to turn about and we wound our way to Brisbane town. Together we barked out orders to each other, seeking road signs, barely avoiding one way streets to find a street named George.  A lot of other royal names flew by until George suddenly appeared.  But could we turn?  All we saw was a big bike icon on the road.  Bikes only?  Siri didn’t have a clue, so we wound about a few streets hoping to return to George and follow his path.  We did.  Couldn’t Park.  I leapt out in front of my hotel forgetting for the moment which way to watch for cars.  My friend buzzed off, assumable to continue her duet with siri.

Since that whirlwind of an arrival, I have trundle about this twisty city, most off blown about be tenacious winds that see to steal my handheld packages.  Oh, but the joy of such an internationally interwoven city.  Film festivals from multiple countries.  Languages galore.  And not just spoken, but all about on signs and flyers.  The fashion is as enticing as the loopinesss of the river, firmly proud of its unique existence.

I wake with excitement to discover what next I will find around each literal bend of the waterway.

But, honestly, maybe I like this city because the rivers shape matches the single curl hanging from my head (which the wind teases so maliciously).