Gold Coast

The weather wasn't great this morning, and it was forecast to rain.  Over to Sea World for a quick survey to see what the conditions were like.  It was cold and it was the long weekend, so we decided to revisit tomorrow.  Less crowds and hopefully a better day. On to Marina Mirage via a great spot where you can buy fish straight from the back of the trawlers.  We got some fab green prawns for $28kg and some bug thing that we've never tried before. The Mirage was nice but they were mid annual repairs.  The pool is pretty but the foyer and dining area looks a little tired in comparison to its glory days.  A couple of photos and it was over to the shopping preccint for a quick walk through and walk around the marina. Very fancy. The boats were huge.  It started spitting so we headed in doors much to Ricks disappointment as he was really fantasizing about those boats.  And then on to the much anticipated Versace Hotel.  I think I was in heaven. I could have happily swapped the caravan for a night here, or many. Wow, the architecture was just beautiful.  All the work in the ceiling of the foyer was mesmerizing. And the mosaic floor was stunning. I very much appreciated the magnificent chandeliers in the foyer too.  And the pools were just lovely.  Too bad the patrons weren't as friendly as they are in the caravan parks.  There's a little too much "too cool for school" happening here, so on to Surfers Paradise for a look around the famous strip along the water. As we were driving, Rick's friend from Darwin called to see how we the car was going and he just happened to be on the Gold Coast.  Rick used to work with him at Leo Francos Holden as a mechanic in a former life. Before we knew it we were driving past waving to him in a bar on the beach front.  So a quick catch up and then on to eat at an Italian Deli in Broadbeach.  It was nice but the weather was cold and it was late as we'd been held up socialising.  So back to the caravan park for the fab seafood from the trawlers.  The green prawns were enormous.  One was bigger that Rick's head. We peeled and cooked them in a garlic butter on the Webber.  Kids in bed, it was a nice night for a vino.