Australian Lessons

Goodbye, Melbourne

Shelby the convict.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was our last day in Melbourne and while we are excited to see what else Australia has to offer (and at that, we know we are only getting a glimpse), we will miss this city.  The cool Euro vibe is addictive and I could hang out any of the café’s that line so many streets without ever getting tired. 

Here’s what I have learned about while in Australia so far:

We spent yesterday morning
at the Melbourne Gaol (Jail).
Very "Shawshank."

Our friend at the St. Kilda café taught me how to order coffee appropriately here in Aussie country. He told me that if I wanted my coffee with milk,  I should ask for it “flat white”  and if I wanted my coffee black, it would be a “long black.”  I have been going for the flat white and haven’t looked back. 

Still on the coffee theme: I have yet to have a bad cup of coffee.  No kidding, the Melbournians take their coffee very, very seriously. Not bitter, smooth, perfectly delicious.  I’m crossing my fingers that the coffee will be as good in other parts of this country.  It might be too much to hope for.

Australia only became a country 113 years ago.  That’s 1901 when the separate states of Australia decided to join together…New Zealand was almost in, but then changed it’s mind. 

The Gold Rush in Australia made the Gold Rush in California look like child’s play.

Quick…what is the capital of Australia?  No way you know, even maybe if you have been here.  It is Canberra.  Betcha’ didn’t know it.

They drive on the left side of the road here, and people walk on the left side of the sidewalk, too.  I wish I could explain how they make right hand turns in Melbourne.  If you see me on the street at home, ask me to draw a diagram, no way to explain it in words, and it makes almost no sense to me.

Alexander was right, if you’re having a no good terrible awful horrible day, it makes perfect sense to move to Australia.  No one is having a bad day here.  As a matter of fact, I have heard the phrase, “No worries!”  more than almost anything else.  Because that is the theme of the whole country…no worries.  Life is good.

Typical sidewalk-style 7-11.

There are a million 7-11’s here.  They are not attached to gas stations.  They sell bicycle helmets and Krispy Kremes, among other sundries.  There are more 7-11's here than there are coffee shops in an American downtown.  Nearly on every corner. 

In our hundreds of miles walked, I’ve only seen TWO Starbucks.  One in Melbourne and one this morning in Brisbane.  Hudsons Coffee looks like the ubiquitous chain here.  Haven’t tried it, though, too many other coffee shops to choose from.

There is a lot of graffiti here.  Almost every wall has graffiti on it, whether it is in the city or in the country.  Stranger yet, there is really no obvious "slums" or ghetto, so the graffiti does not fit the typical urban theme, despite the fact that it has the typical artistic look to it.

Orion is upside down.  The southern hemisphere presents a whole new array of constellations, including the elusive "Southern Cross (see CSN).  However you can still see Orion.  And, it he is upside down from how we see him normally.  Weird.

This is the only country I have been to in which Jeff has no one to talk soccer/football with.  Don’t get me wrong, the people here are crazy about sports, just soccer isn’t one of them.  But, get them started on Cricket, Australian Rules Football and they are passionate.  Apparently, they love Basketball, too.  Some of them.  On tv the other day, I found Jeff and Shelby watching a heated game of darts (woah) and then, the night before we left Melbourne, I asked Jeff what he was watching and he told me it was something called “Net Ball”  a women’s sport in which women run around holding a ball and then throw it up into a basket with no backboard, instant tranquilizer for me, I was out in two seconds.  Today, Jeff was sucked in to a TV station dedicated to "Footy" (AFL, or, Australian-rules football).  He said he loved it because it reminded him of the politically incorrectly named playground game referred to as "smear the queer" growing up.  The player with the ball is hunted, tackled, hit, kicked, scratched.  And you can throw or kick the ball in any direction.  Why this game hasn't caught on in the US, is beyond me.  

We are in Brisbane now.  We will head to Noosa Heads this afternoon after visiting with some Koala Bears.  There will be more to share for sure tonight.  Merry Christmas Eve!