Antoon and Freddy are visiting Australia. They arrived Tuesday and met up with them yesterday, along with Michael once he’d finished work. Was just like old times, and we even managed a Mahou from my local tapas bar. Waking up with a hangover this morning brought back memories of Madrid. They’re staying at Michael’s for the time they’re in Melbourne, but intend to go on a roadtrip next week to Uluru and Kings Canyon. I fancy joining them…

Should have spent this evening in the Telstra Dome watching U2. Unfortunately for me and several hundred thousand others, U2 have postponed their tour to Australia, New Zealand and Japan due to illness. Instead went to watch the Commonwealth Games squash. A girl I know from Swansea is playing for Wales in the squash. She was in action in the mixed doubles today. She won her match, and had a chat with her afterwards. Still can’t believe you can fit 4 players on a squash court for a serious match…

Went to see the Commonwealth Games athletics this evening. Was very confusing in the beginning. Never having been to an athletics meet, I could really make out which event I should be following. Towards the end it became clearer. Enjoyed it, but it’s one of those things that’s so much easier to watch on TV. Also, you can turn the sound down when they play the Australian national anthem, but in the stadium you have to be “upstanding” and endure it. Got nothing against the anthem itself, but I’ve heard it so many times in the last week that it’s starting to get on my nerves. It doesn’t help that Channel 9, which is covering the Games here, only plays the anthems when an Australian athlete wins an event. Still, according to the letters page in the local paper, there have been quite a few complaints from Australians about the parochial coverage offered by channel 9.

There was no question of paying A$400 to watch the ceremony from the a seat in the stadium, but the local papers have recommended getting a position on the banks of the river between Flinders St station and the bridge closest to the MCG, so that’s what we did. It was probably the most amazing firework display I’ve seen, and light display was also impressive. Not sure the view on TV would have done it justice. Got some amazing photos which will be posted to the gallery, but here’s the best of the bunch;

Melbourne is slowly starting to wake up to the fact that the Commonwealth Games are coming to town shortly. The organisers have put 72 sculptured fishes, about 3m high and on floats, in the middle of the Yarra river. Nobody is really sure what part they’ll have to play in the opening ceremony, but rumours in the press say that there’ll be the centrepiece to a light and fireworks display, and that the captains of the 16 AFL (Aussie Rules Football League) clubs will be invited to carry the Queen’s baton past all 72 of them. There is 1 fish for each of the 71 nations taking part, and 2 for Australia. Apparently each country was asked to nominate a fish typical to that country. Wales chose the common carp!!!

Very hot today, and decided to try a beach on Port Phillip, Brighton Beach. Melbourne, although being on the coast, is actually 60km as the crow flies from the Ocean coast. Melbourne is at the northern end of a natural harbour called Port Phillip.

The red spot marks approximately where Brighton Beach is. takes about 15 minutes on the suburban train from here. Getting to the Ocean beaches from Melbourne is not so easy without a car. It takes 2 hours by car, and by public transport is just isn’t feasable for a day trip. Brighton was ok, but no decent waves… Similar to the Mediterranean.

It feels nice to be back in Melbourne, after 10 days or so in hostals. Was greeted on arrival by an almighty thunderstorm, probably the biggest I’ve experienced in a long long time. The roads were flooded after just an hour of rain. Got back into the old routine pretty quickly a caught up with everyone, and spent St David’s Day celebrating on the terrace of Bridie O Reilly’s on Chapel St

yeah, I know, another Irish pub. Been looking for a Welsh pub, but only found this;