Show Time!

[nzguy1]

Every August, for 10-days, Brisbane holds the Royal Queensland Show. This institution has been going since 1876 and was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition, and today is referred to simply as 'The Ekka'. The showgrounds are within spitting distance of the CBD and part of the charm is that the country really does come to the city. With real

Comments

[notsogreynomad]

Hi Al! Your description of the Ekka was fantastic. I haven't been for many years (no 1 son, who is now 27, was still in high school!). If I am ever back home in August, I must go. Actually Gracie, our daughter, has been going these last couple of years, and I would love to go again with her. Your pictures were fantstic. Oh, and I loved "cholesterol on a stick!" such a perfect description. You know, when we were at the Mareeba Rodeo, that were selling dagwood dogs on a stick, and they actually looked really good (clean & not greasy) but I could never bring myself to eat one.

Oh, and fairy floss! That reminds me - when I was a young girl the company my dad worked for always held the most amazing Christmas parties. You know the type? In the grounds of the factory, where they kept an area all beautifully grassed just for the occasion. They had rides, and games, Santa came with presents - but the thing that I always remembered was they always had a fairy floss machine. You went up to the operator, and they spun your fairy floss fresh for you - it was such a magical thing for a 5 year old. NOW!!! You just buy it in a plastic bag. Actually, at the Rodeo they sold it (I kid you not!) in a bucket! A reasonably BIG bucket! Where's the magic I ask you?????

[nzguy1]

You know they were selling big buckets of fairy floss too...seems all rather gross to me. I used to love watching them make it fresh in a spinning machine and twirl it around a wooden stick...and it was always just slightly warm. I loved it! Not so sure now as I think it'd be much too sweet for my tastes.

I've never been to a rodeo here...I enjoyed them in Canada though.