Firstly, everything is spookily modern and easily accessible. The newly constructed tram whizzes up and down the coast whilst buses fill in the gaps that the tram doesn’t serve. Cycleways line the boulevards and offer an ideal way to get around the short distances from amenities. Tall high rise buildings line the coast like modern sculptures, as if in worship to the seemingly ever present sun. Looking out towards the city and the many towering residential appartments, it’s hard to believe that this area was once favoured as a secluded holiday destination and has only recently boomed, well since 1875 anyway. With bars, restaurants, casinos, amusement parks and other resort paraphernalia its hard to imagine a more less-tranquil place. If you catch my drift.
Thankfully, and through good luck rather than good management, we chose the more secluded part of the city in which to base ourselves for the few days that we were here. Perched high up on the 14th Floor of a resort complex it offered an almost bird’s-eye view of the city and the hustle and bustle below. Add to that a (partial) view of the sea it was the perfect spot to retreat from the noise. And to see how the city-planners had mapped out the city.
If this all sounds rather negative, it’s not meant to be. It’s just that as Europeans, being brought up on history and culture, The Gold Coast couldn’t seem further from home. It would be a great place to spend a week with kids if the sea and sunshine were you’re thing. Equally, one could imagine retiring here for the perfect climate and convenience of amenities. And, despite this not being our kind of place, as a work colleague warned beforehand, we have a great time. Our days soon settled into a pattern; early morning strolls along the beach as waves crashed onto the shore or leisurely runs along the coast, a dip in the pool to cool off, followed by breakfast from our crow’s nest of an apartment. An early lunch at the local beachfront cafe followed by a snooze before finally getting ready and heading off to the Commonwealth Games. With that kind of itinerary, one could easily see why living here would be ideal. Just don’t expect to have easy access to any culture or history. And if that comes across as though I’m a pompous-Pom then I apologise, but would like to add that just as the sun, sand and sea are part of some people’s upbringing, then culture and history are part of mine. That doesn’t make it right or superior just different.
As for the games? Well as far as the home nations go, and I’m looking at you England particularly, it hasn’t been good. It’s not that we’ve let our Australian cousins take the majority of the medals, although that does sting a lot, we just didn’t seem to turn up. There were some outstanding performances but few and far between. This was only ever a side holiday for us, a quick getaway if you like, but for others getting to the games from the northern hemisphere comes at a great cost, financially and in time. And to not turn up is not good enough frankly. But that’s the age of media-driven sport I suppose. The pride of representing your country doesn’t have the attraction it once did when Olympic sponsorship is dangled as a carrot.
Back in the really world, as I look down on the perfect Sim-City-made-real city, I start to wonder. Surely the tram would’ve been better laid along the coast rather than a few blocks inland? Maybe the cinema would’ve been better on the main land rather than on a linked island? How about a ferry service or a bridge across that harbour? Hhmmm. Give me a mouse and I’ll soon have it sorted. Sure there might be some disgruntled residents whilst I make the adjustments but they’ll get over it. Well they do in the game and I’m sure that this would be no different!
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