My sister works in the domestic violence field as an educator for social workers. Sometimes if she is really busy I will give her a hand. She writes under the name of Ricky Hunter.

There was a seminar held on the Gold Coast so she asked me to go with her. It was held at Bond University, but as it had an early start she thought it would be nice to have some sisterly time together and stay at a hotel down there for one night.

Looking due east over the beach from the 19th floor of the Meriton.

This hotel on the left is called Peppers.

Peppers is built to look like two sails, very impressive from a distance.

Looking north towards Surfers Paradise. There are hotels everywhere here.
The Gold Coast is one of the worlds top holiday destinations.

She booked a room at the Meriton, a nice block of serviced apartments. It is direcltly opposite Jupiters Casino and Pacific Fair.  Like most of the Gold Coast, it is being torn up and mended, but with light rail tracks and stations being planted all along the coast.  One of the problems of the Gold Coast is its transport system. Nothing links up, and you can't get to Surfers Paradise by train. I'm sure the long suffering businesses will be thrilled to see this project completed, it seems like it has been going on for years.

 The Meriton was lovely, and we were on the 19th floor with a fabulous view of the beach.

 

Jupiters Casino was directly opposite. You can also see some of the
waterways that thread their way right through the area. Canals and boat ramps go for miles.
They are all interconnected to the open sea north of the city.

You can see the light rail being built in the centre of the road. A stop
is being finished right outside the new convention centre at the top
left of the picture.

 

A very comfy bed.

One of the things the Gold Coast has done properly is leave the coast fringed with parks and open areas.  The Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane is so built up along the beaches that you can’t see the sea for all the buildings.

 

 



We had a heavy shower go over and not long after a beautiful rainbow.

The apartment had two bedrooms, each with the most comforatbel king size bed. We were in bed at 8 pm, we were both so tired. I woke up and 4 am…yes…daylight again, but my room was facing west so not open to the sunlight.

I sat outside in the cool for a few minutes having a drink of water then back to bed for a total of eleven hours sleep. What bliss!

 

3.50 am. The sun was waking up.

Back to bed again, about 4.10 am.

Some one was fishing in the canal by Jupiter's Casino.