Despite having a long week at work, I didn’t want to miss out on the carnival atmosphere in the city, so I got Kim to join me after work for a few Leffe Blonde’s and a walk along the Yarra toward the MCG. Plenty of people had similar ideas, and it was as crowded as I’ve ever seen it – though I’m sure New Years Eve would rival it. A packed Federation Square held Bollywood dancing lessons for enraptured fans; a group of Maori’s entertained folks in the Alexandra Gardens, and SouthGate had it’s fair share of didgeridoo players that played to backing tracks. We went over the Sandridge Bridge (dedicated to Melbourne’s various immigrants over the past 200 years) and discovered spit marks all over the glass markers for the countries of the Turkey, Greece and the U.S. The Polish marker was missing, apparently damaged and being replaced. I tell ya, it doesn’t take long for the local vandals to make their mark. I don’t blame the City of Melbourne council for leaving the bridge opening till 3 days before the Games. It’s going to look a lot different in a few months time! After a couple of hours trudging around on sandy paths, we found our way to a city favourite – Lebanese House “first to introduce Middle Eastern Food to Melbourne in 1959”, where a Mezze platter and BBQ prawns made the long walk worthwhile. The city is buzzing and it’s wonderful to see. Tommorrow night we get to go to the Stadium. Yippee. 
The trail of fish floats down the Yarra. 
Bollywood and some sculptures..