The purpose of this particular blog entry is to satisfy the requirements
of the blog that I feel I have not fulfilled in previous entries. For Brisbane, previous blog entries have provided pictures and commentary on
portions of the built and natural environment and a conversation with Ralph, a native of Australia. At this time, I would
like to take some time to further reflect on the city of Brisbane as a whole and also provide a chronologically correct posting where I can upload a reflections video of Brisbane in the next day or so.
On the whole I thought Brisbane was a wonderful city. I thoroughly enjoyed our hotel and the local eating establishments, but what I found most enjoyable was the overall cleanliness that pervaded the city. Unlike large cities I have visited in the United States, and even Sydney, Brisbane seems to have been well kept and preserved over the years. This goes for both the built environment and natural environment. Buildings and shops are well maintained and the plethora of parks and sidewalks available for public use create a wonderful environment.
It is obvious from even one bus ride that Brisbane is a masterful example of excellent urban planning, what with the roadways designed solely for the use of city buses and the use of the river to create an atmosphere for recreation and fun. The city has a spacious feeling and there are only a few blocks in the downtown area where buildings actually block your view of the sun (as is common place in cities with skyscrapers), but even so, all of the streets allow enough natural light in so that you don't feel "closed-off" from the rest of the world.
The people here seem quite friendly, though I would suggest not walking down the bike paths unless you want bikers ringing their little bells asking (sometimes not so politely) for you to move.
Construction is everywhere - from a large addition to the Children's Hospital to several new buildings in the downtown area - that combine with sustainable buildings mentioned beforehand (such as the SANTOS building and 123 Albert Street) that further add to the feeling that Brisbane is a progressive and innovative city. On the whole, my stay here has been both enjoyable and enlightening - a combination that makes for a successful study abroad experience!
For a full reflection of Brisbane, here is a short video that highlights the major activities and experiences the group enjoyed:
(Video coming soon!)
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