Sydney and Melbourne

1)It reminded me of the show... 2) Me and the Opera House 4) Me and the bridge 4) On our way to the Twelve Apostles (I was car sick) 5) The Twelve Apostles

School has been kicking my butt, which is why I haven't written in over a month.

In August I went with a group of people to Sydney for the weekend. We really went for the Jason Mraz concert, but we also wanted to do a bit of the tourist thing.

We saw the bridge and the opera house like the good tourists we are. Although, I have to admit I wasn't much impressed. While I didn't really care for those attractions I will say the nerd in me loved the authors walk along the Sydney Harbor.

Hayley and I went to Manley one afternoon as well. Also not very impressive but the ferry ride back was awesome! The view approaching the harbor was gorgeous. We got there just as the sun was starting to set.

The Wake Up! hostel was nice and only a block from Chinatown. Hayley introduced me to Milk Tea (aka bubble tea)--a tea with milk afloat with tapioca globules. It's an interesting experience for ones taste-buds.

Hayley and I, feeling guilty for not doing our homework, went to the ANZAC Memorial. We had just gone over the ANZAC legend in our Australia in the 20th century class. Personally, I had never heard of the ANZACs before and, maybe because I'm an American, I don't get it. But, then I don't get a lot of things about the Australians. Like their sports obsession or why they take three words and make come out as one (ex: How are you? becomes howyagoin'?).

The concert was the highlight of the trip, of course. I have never spent $60 so well in my life! Loved it. He was funny, energetic, he involved the audience and he was on stage for two hours! It was fantastic.

Last Thursday I went with another group to Melbourne. I should have gone by myself or with a smaller group or with people I actually know well enough to have a conversation with. Maybe, I should have told the annoying, bossy girl who sucked all the air out of the room to F-off. But, alas, I was didn't and I paid for it. I didn't have as good a time as I should have. But that isn't to say the trip to Melbourne was a bust. I think it is one of my favourite cities. It actually felt like a city, whereas Sydney felt more like a very big home town.

The first day, we rented a car and drove the Great Ocean Road to the twelve apostles. It was really beautiful. A word of advice: remember your motion sickness pills. The highlight, was the trip back into Melbourne. We actually saw a Koala run across the road! In fact, we almost hit it. It's amazing how much more exciting seeing an animal can be when it isn't locked in a cage.

The rest of the weekend involved a museum, a big market and a lot of walking in the windy, rainy cold.

The Immigrant museum was nice. I would have enjoyed it better if I had been with people who were a bit more into the museum thing. It felt like they were there because it was raining outside.

The market was, well a market. They did have really, really , really good corn on the cob, though.

Sunday, we walked through the Bohemian neighbourhood. I hate the pretentiousness of it. People who want to be something interesting (like Bohemian) and yet miss the point entirelly and then try and sell you used clothes for hundreds of dollars. I had some really good pumpkin and lintel soup, though. And it was cheap!

We also went to the botanical gardens. It was really beautiful. I bet it is absolutely spectacular in spring and summer. While we were there we stopped by the Shrine of Rememberance. I wish I had more time at the Shrine, but everyone to go back to the hostel.

Melbourne has some amazing buildings, both old and new. The city really embraces the past and looks toward the future. I think it might surpass Sydney as the New York of Australia. At least I hope it does.