Tootling Around Toowoomba

It was hubby's birthday, so we decided to head to his childhood haunts for a weekend break (yay, no masks needed).  He grew up in Toowoomba, which even though on the top of a mountain range, flooded badly in 2011, with heartbreaking results.  A very sad time.  Fortunately, no-one we knew was hurt or killed.  But to this day, there are still bodies that have never been recovered. 

Toowoomba has always been a  big country town, but it's turning into - well, a bigger country town :=)  And with all the usual suspects, like nightclubs and bars, and trendy cafés, and a fabulous indie bookshop.  And several Thai restaurants and lots of street art.  It's fabulous!  Oh, and lots of beautiful old buildings.

the view from the front of the hotel at sunset

Here you can see the old Court House (now a private home) next to the old Post Office, both made from gorgeous local sandstone.  Slap bang in the middle of town!  Imagine living there.

 

we ate gelati - he had blueberry and vanilla

There was smooth and creamy gelato/gelati (?) to be had at Gelatissimo.  I had choc-mint, and salted caramel.

so true

we ate takeaway Turkish in our hotel room - chicken shish kebabs

there was textile art by Beatrijs Van Rheeden

we saw street art by Elisha Rei on the back of the Art Gallery

and a red-tailed black cockatoo by David Cragg on the local Council  offices

we drove into the countryside in the pouring rain

we drank prosecco in a trendy bar called Fitzy's

and ate buckwheat crepes in a gorgeous little café called Burrow

and scoffed down delicious marzipan Mozart Kugeln

we had omelette with sourdough and smoked salmon for brunch

We met up with my peeps for brunch at Sweet Talk café - i.e. the ladies of the pod as I call us.  I am part of a very small Instagram pod called the PodStars, and we meet up for an insta meeting several times a year.  Always delightful to see them, and to share taking photos.  So lucky to have met up with these ladies; it's not that easy to make new friends after you've finished up working.

Mr P. checking out another old building

we drove past the old railway station - with extra silos on the left

and then there was a cappuccino for me, and hot choc for him

We had a fabulous break; just a shame we were a few weeks too early for the autumn leaves turning.  We had rain, we had sunshine, we had cold winds, we had a lovely hotel room, and tasty food, and visits with friends.  

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that our friends from Hobart were in town, visiting her parents who still live in their own home (and they're in their 90s!)  Hubby, his sisters and Madam P. grew up together during their teenage years, then shared a house when they moved to Brisbane for university.  And I lived next door to them in Brisbane, all-unknowing for some time.  

She was a student at the Conservatorium of Music; so that's why I kept hearing piano music ... And I shared house with another Con student who played classical guitar.  I heard the same piece for an entire year!  Oops, that's enough reminiscing.  Soooo happy we can travel around our State, without masks (even though we still have to check in everywhere we go).  Lucky are we!