Just over a week ago, I took the train from Brisbane down to the Gold Coast, where my dear friend Filo has recently made his home (for the second time). He lives in a high rise overlooking the beach; not a bad place to be sleeping on the couch for a few nights!
A view from breakfast
As if this wasn't a great enough situation to walk into, Filo (formerly of Austin, TX) cooked Mexican food the first night I arrived on the Gold Coast. All in all, the welcome could not have been warmer. On day two there, one of Filo's friends drove me down the coast to Coolangatta and Currumbin, where we climbed Elephant Rock and ate lunch at the Surf Club. It was a breathtaking day and I have the pictures to prove it!
A look back Surfer's Paradise from Coolangatta
Surfers at Coolan'ghetto'
View of the ocean from atop Elephant Rock
Apparently these weren't the famous Currumbin rock pools, but still pretty!
The real highlight of my trip down the coast was a 40th birthday party for my friend Jonny, who Jaime and I met on our last trip over here. This party was extremely highly anticipated and it lived up to it! The theme was 'rockstar' and I was told that anyone who didn't show up in full costume would be forced to wear a penalty costume chosen by the birthday boy. Because I didn't want to know what this entailed (and I love dressing up), I made a trip down to the closest costume shop and got outfitted from head to toe. My original idea was Tina Turner, but due to the fact that their Tina wig looked like a dead animal on my head, I opted for the next best thing - 1980's Like a Virgin period Madonna. Seemed like a fitting costume since Madonna and I have so much in common and all. Okay, at least we're both American! Filo dressed as Willie Nelson, decked out with braids and boots and I dare say our costumes were some of the best there.
Madonna and Willie
Hands up like we're having fun!
The party was a rager and everyone from Bob Marley to Dolly Parton to George Michael was represented. From my recollection, the night didn't end until the sun was up and the clock read about 7 a.m. Why do these Aussies always cause me to pull all-nighters?? I must look like a sucker. The low-point of the party was walking back to the place I was staying the next morning in a t-shirt, crinolin skirt and no shoes while people were sitting out on sidewalks enjoying breakfast. That walk was hard on both my feet and my dignity...but the night had been worth it!
Willie and Bob
Willie, Madonna and George Michael
Madonna and Sandra Dee
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