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Published: February 16th 2008
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Federation Square
Here is a view of some of the interesting buildings around the square and the festival that was going on Melbourne
Today we got a chance to really see the city of Melbourne. Right after breakfast we had two sessions; one on finance and one on trips. Then we took a bus from our hotel on the Mornington Peninsula to The Oaks (the hotel in downtown Melbourne that we are staying at tonight). As soon as we got here our Arcadia staff took us on a quick tour of the city. Mazz took us to Federation Square, which was a beautiful and artsy multicultural plaza. This weekend there happens to be a Sustainable Living Fair going on with lots of vendors, performers and exciting things to see. The she took us to a lot of back alleyways with graffiti that was much more like artwork and she said it changes every time she is there. She showed us some nice cafes in cute little alleyways and shopping areas. She showed us where a lot of cell phone companies were so we could shop around and get one. I got a Vodafone one and would love to give you my number if you e-mail me so that you can call me and pay all the international fees. The cool thing
Floral Clock
We found this floral clock in the botanical gardens and it helped remind us to head back to the hotel because it surprising told the correct time. in Australia, about cell phones, is that incoming calls and texts are free.
After the city tour Sam, Sarah, and I walked over to Queen Victoria’s market which is like a huge flea market that spans at least 2 square city blocks. I almost bought an Australian flag as a belt buckle but decided that I had spent enough money on myself for one day already. I did however get a fresh fruit smoothie. It had mango, pineapple, passion fruit and apple in it. It was delicious. For lunch we stopped in a café and I had an Aussie toastie. It was a grilled ham and cheese with tomato. I thought it was very good. On our way back to the hotel we went to the Queen Victoria Gardens which is part of a huge green space with gardens in the downtown of Melbourne. It was very beautiful and I think well used by the people in it. There was a skate park that was full of young whiper-snapers, and lots of people laying down enjoying the sunny day.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped and saw a street performer who did a handstand on
Room/Electricity Key
Here is the room key put into it's holder to turn on the electricity in the room. a small platform with stacks of blocks under each hand and then he “jumped” his hands down the platform. The funniest thing was that he picked four guys from the audience and wrapped them in plastic wrap to protect the crowd from falling blocks. I tried to film his stunt on camera but it ran out of battery while I was filming some of his pre trick “funnies”.
When we left the hotel after checking in, in search of some dinner, we saw another street performer. This guy had one several costumes and flirted with the crowd until he was down to his head to toe purple spandex suit. Then he brought in people from the crowd too act out a love story with some disco dancing, clearly very classy. The people he picked were Ricardo from Venezula, Noel from Holland, and Ricky from Perth. It was a hilarious show!! I really enjoyed the street performers and art all around the city of Melbourne.
For dinner we looked around and were shocked to find no restaurant that served meals for less than $20. So we walked and walked and walked looking for somewhere inexpensive to eat. Finally we got really tired and hungry and stopped at a pizza place at about 9:45pm. It was a neat little place though because we got to eat at tables on the sidewalk in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the street. Sarah and I shared a Chicken pizza and it was delicious.
Now I am lying in bed waiting for my two random roommates to get back so I can go to sleep. There is only one keycard to each room and they split us up completely randomly for room assignments. My roommates decided to go out tonight and stay out later than I did obviously. I would leave the keycard at the desk for them but then how would I get back in my room. Also they have a neat thing at the hotel where you have to put the keycard in a thing by the door to make the electricity in the room work. So if I sent the Keycard to the desk somehow I would be sitting in complete darkness. Oh well I’m gonna go charge my new phone. Adios…
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