Melbourne - sporting capital

Hello from Melbourne! Many people recommended coming here, but couldn't really say why. Well, it's a lovely place to be. Lots of parks; modern, spacious squares; tall buildings to see from (88th floor of the Eureka Sky Tower a must!); sculptures in the streets; lots going on. The first day I was here there was a police band playing jazz in Federation Square - a little like the Triangle in Manchester - big area with steps for seating, and a large video screen. I was in heaven - men in uniform, playing saxophones - what more could a girl want (I chatted to one of them at the break, but didn't get a chance to test his embouchere...). The next day there was another band playing afro-jazz as an introduction to the jazz fringe festival just starting. Yesterday there was a show of Omani culture - lots of craft stalls and some music and strange but interesting dancing. All this in unseasonably warm weather - it is the equivalent of October here, but after a mediocre summer in Oz it is currently sunny. I take full credit for bringing good weather - it has accompanied me around the world pretty much all of the time so far...
I haven't spent all my time in the Square, though - on my first day I was given 5 booklets of walks around the city, of which I've done 3 so far. The first day I explored the little backstreets - lots of tiny cafes and very expensive clothes shops. The second day I walked by the river to the sports area - they are sports-mad here. There are several arenas, the major one being the MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground. I did a tour here, standing on the grass; visiting the players' viewing rooms and their dressing rooms (bit stinky - the smell of stale male sweat lingers!); and the Long Room - not quite Lords, but not a bad imitation! Our tour guide was a Member - he and the others I met when looking around the new Sports Museum later were so enthusiastic. In the end I gave up asking questions as I felt I might be there for the rest of my year...
They don't just play cricket there - it also hosts Aussie Rules Football. The hunky young Dutchman who's sleeping on top of me in the dorm says I should go to a game even if I don't understand the rules - the atmosphere is magic, he says. But he hasn't offered to escort and enlighten me, so I think I'll save my dollars. As warned, Australia is proving more expensive than New Zealand. The NZ dollar is about 2.5 to the pound, whereas the Aus dollar is approx 2 to the pound. But you have to pay the same number of Aus dollars or more for the same goods or services.
Today I'm feeling very laid-back and unstressed (of course, what's to stress me?!). I've walked the 5 or 6 kms directly south to St Kilda beach via Albert Park which has a large lake with birds and boats to watch. I've walked to the end of the pier, and sat in the sun eating a chicken and avocado salad (why don't we use avocado more - it's fab in a salad!); I've lazed on the beach watching children build sandcastles. The lifestyle here is definitely enviable.
I've neglected to mention firstly the storm we witnessed on my last full day in Sydney - thunder and lightning over the harbour bridge, forcing the climbers to retreat - glad I wasn't climbing that day. Secondly, I've completely missed out a description of Canberra, where I stayed a couple of days before I got here (3.5 coach hours from Sydney, 8.5 hours from Melbourne; very long trip enlivened by chatting to 83-year-old Canberra resident) - Canberra is the capital city, chosen when just a tiny place because it is between the two contenders, Sydney and Melbourne. It was purpose-built and very well-designed. I did a city tour which included the new Parliament House. This made me realise that I've never visited the Houses of Parliament in London, which I must put right on my return...
Hope you like the contrast between the natural and unnatural in my photos - I'm told that a cow in a tree isn't too unlikely; it happens when flood waters subside sometimes! Enough - thanks for accompanying me on this part of my trip!

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