Tuesday, August 19, 2008

a whole different walking etiquette



It was a perfect winter's morning on Sunday and we took the opportunity of some spare time to go walking at the beach. As usual the water was glittering and the sky a brilliant blue.

It's astonishing though, how quickly Bargara is being ruined by the construction of high rise apartments. They're all concrete block, airconditioning units and (I imagine) stainless steel European appliances.



And gradually all the grand old beach houses are being moved on, or torn down to make way for this wonderful "progress".



Although there are still a few that are holding on, in spite of the monstrosities arising all round them.

Bargara used to be really little different to Bundaberg in terms of population, but go down there during the week and it's packed with retired couples walking hand in hand along the foreshore, in their sleeveless vests and joggers. You'll also experience a whole different walking etiquette - or rather lack of walking etiquette. Where I walk around my house just about everyone you meet will greet you with a "hello", "good morning" etc. That is, they actually dare to make eye contact and you feel part of a virtuous little walking community.
In Bargara on Sunday we encountered plenty of people walking, but it was all dark sunnies and looking assiduously in another direction as we crossed paths.

No comments: