Thinking Allowed: West ending

We had a wonderful time in the West End of Brisbane. It was a reminder to us of how much better cities are when you immerse yourself in a dynamic and hip neighbourhood. We revelled in the fact that we could walk everywhere. The kids were putting in a good five kilometers of walking a day minimum to ensure that they got to go for a swim. If we wanted them to walk 8 kilometers we could convince them to walk to the large library further away. We could walk to a swimming pool, a fake beach, a river, a library, numerous ethnic and general grocery stores, a climbing gym, numerous parks, and endless cute cafes and places to eat. What more did we need? While, occasionally, I would choose to make the 10 minute drive to go for a trail run, being able to park your car and forget about it was one of the perks of inner city living. The West End is also full of history and culture. Original home to aboriginals who still call it home, it is also steeped in the culture donated by years of Greeks and Vietnamese immigrants. A hub for alternative living and the fit. It has been a long time since I have lived in a place with more health foods shops a short walk away than I could count on one hand. And gyms...so many gyms to serve all sorts of exercise fanatics - indoor soccer, cross fit, traditional gym, yoga, aerial yoga, dance, wrestling, axe-throwing, and on and on. Aurora and I tried to count the number of gyms on Montague street but got overwhelmed within a couple of blocks. Why is the West End so fit? Even the homeless of the West End seem to have caught the fitness bug. As I ran along the river one morning I noticed that each homeless person slumbering under the bridge had a nice looking bicycle parked at their feet. Its been fun Brisbane and we will thinking of you fondly when we make use of our tanned and toned legs elsewhere.