Surfers Paradise - Day 1

We were awoke early in the morning to a sound that had become unfamiliar; that of rain drumming against the roof of our motel room.  It had started drizzling late in the afternoon the day before, but this time the rain meant business - it was going to rain all day long.

We drove the 20 or so kilometers from Coolangatta up to Surfers Paradise and arrived mid afternoon.  As the rain was still coming down, a stroll along the beach wasn't an option.  Instead we did a bit of window shopping in the town's many malls and covered shopping precincts and also played a game of pool in the local video game arcade.

Surfers Paradise as a town is a bit difficult to describe.  Designer shops rub shoulders on the street with shops selling the typical coastal town tat, live music bars and clubs and strip joints.  There is also a hotel and casino resort to enjoy.  The best analogy I can come up with is a mix between Benidorm, Oxford Street and Las Vegas.

After lunch, the rain had eased off a bit, so we took the opportunity to walk the streets a little and sample a couple of bars.  We took things pretty easy, as for once we had the luxury of staying here for two nights.

As the evening drew on, we decided that after dinner we would check out the hotel and casino resort.  It was not exactly Las Vegas standard, but the place was pretty busy, with several restaurants and bars to choose from as well as the casino itself.  We did a spot of gambling, although it didn't take long for the establishment to benefit from our modest stakes on the one-arm bandits and roulette table.

Pockets somewhat lighter, we drifted back to our apartment via the off licence and spent the late evening watching tv and drinking wine.  Hopefully the weather will be a bit kinder to us tomorrow.

TTFN