Last week we packed up our suitcases and moved the few kilometres to Brisbane’s Central Business District (CBD), into our temporary apartment that will be home for the next seven weeks.
I was sad to say goodbye to the neighbourhood we had lived in for the past few years, with its jacaranda lined streets and quirky cafes.
We are still a short stroll from Fortitude Valley, its nightlife and edgy characters, a nice walk along Eagle Street Pier to New Farm’s boutiques and upmarket cafes. Newstead’s calming streets and quiet parks are only a ferry ride away. Even though we made that area home for most of our time here, it’s slightly comforting moving back into the hub of Brisbane.
You see, when I first moved to Australia, I lived in a hostel for five weeks until I could find an apartment with my then-boyfriend, now-husband. We stayed across the street from the Queensland.Irish Club and thought it was fate. I spent my days at University, while he looked for work. We spent weekends at the State Library using their free WiFi to search for apartments and our spare cash to buy $0.50 ice cream cones. We moved in the same areas, frequenting the same bars as all of the other backpackers in this stopover city. Little did we know we were enjoying the cool winter weather, short-term company of new foreign friends and that spring, plenty of opportunities and adventures together were to come.
Looking down from the 30th floor apartment we get to stay in until Christmas, I feel so lucky to have lived where I have lived in Brisbane and met all of the people I have encountered. From our balcony we can see the front door of the hostel that became our first home and the rooftop of the Irish Club where we have made friends, spent time with our families and enjoyed a taste of the familiar in between visits to the island itself.
Isn’t it funny how life can bring you back to a place or remind you of a moment in time?
Notes From Another Land 