Autumn is coming, which means it is time to leave the city and follow summer. The weather outside is cool, dark and rainy and hasn't been great for days now. I know all about the "four seasons in one day" in Melbourne but the experience we had for 3 months was "sunny and crazy hot". I guess we got lucky!
We continued our festival work (to be extra ready for Bluesfest) at Formula 1 Grand Prix (13-16 of March). 5-hour days selling radios. When during working at Moomba festival I was surprised how much people let their kids play the games the actual winning-something-good possibilities are close to zero, at Grand Prix I must say buying something did not interest them at all. "RADIOOOOOSSS, LIVE COMMENTARY RADIOOOOOSSSSS". Most people just found us amusing, came for a chat or asked if they can take a picture with us. More dedicated fans (of the race) said the cars are quiet this year, which I guess they were, the comments from the speakers were heard loud and far. Being at Grand Prix was awesome on its own. We got the event-passes for free and could chill there after work. We watched a bit of the actual racing and spent most of the time in the action zone. Motorcycles, army-planes, figure flying, bmx and skating. Tony Hawk and friends showcases and jam. Love it. Amazing to see Tony Hawk ride live.
Sunday night headed back to Fitzroy to "Evelyn hotel" for "Better than the wizards" gig. Third time seeing them and still as great. Small venue, most of the audience seemed to be friends, so the gig was extra random in the best way. I got a free entry through another band (Thank You!), who I ended up not seeing, as we got lost in the area we have walked so many times. A little extra round later decided to take a tram, google maps wanted to prank us some more and we went a station too far. Still saw one of the warm-up bands: "Kingston Crown" -soul/funk/rock with a touch of reggae = lovely!
St. Patricks day was maybe not that green as it was in The States a couple years back, but still pretty great. Surprisingly many people were out and celebrating in costumes on a monday afternoon. Love this about aussies and will miss in Estonia, that every holiday, no matter from which culture is worth celebrating. We started at home around 11am, made it to North-Melbourne by 1pm to a CS Meetup at "The Last Jar". Guinness, green paint, travel stories and amongst other happenings, sold a sheet from Keiu's "Wreck this journal" signed by an aspiring artist from Britain.. or not. Was worth a whole two dollars! Joined the brits/irish to "The Quiet Man" irish bar and ended the night at "Turf bar" - oh nostalgia.. a popular college bar but most of the crowd was (and acted) less than 18 years old.
Tuesday mornings are cheap (by cheap in Australia I mean more or less affordable) for going to the cinema. "Need for Speed". Cheesy plot. Fast cars. Racing. Enough action. Decent amount of drama and humour. Amazing filming. Depends what you go for, but a pretty badass movie in my opinion.
This tuesdays comedy night in "Lucky Coq" was for the most part probably the worst there has been. Thanks for the last lady for saving the evening, she was funny for all the previous as well. Kate McLennan ladies and gentleman!
Last couple of weeks in Melbourne, so why not take the last of our workouts plan. Woke up 6 o'clock on thursday to make it to a circuit training at 6.30am. Slept till 1pm after it tho. After the second workout in the evening gussied up and visited Melbourne Fashion Week. Free gift bags wohoo! Great cocktails at "The Little Red Pocket" and an amazing view over Melbourne from "The Lui bar" on the 55th floor of the Rialto building. Why pay to visit the skydeck of the Eureka building if you can get the same view from a classy bar.
We were craving for adventures, so instead of taking a train to Geelong (ca 74 km) we decided to hitchhike. A little bathroom stop at "The Arts Centre" accidentally led us to "The Beatles in Australia" exhibition. One of my all-time-favourite bands! Awesome! It's 50 years from their 13-day tour in Australia in 1964.
Thinking we probably should have made a sign we stopped by at a random printing company, asked to borrow some paper and a highlighter and got ourself a sign! Geelong is technically a suburb but the road that goes there is a proper highway not a small road between Capel and Busselton. You should not hitch on the 5-lane highway - even we respect that, so, decided to give it a try before the entry to the highway, pretty much in central Melbourne. Thankfully someone was getting married in Geelong and a guy going to the wedding took us with.
Had the most delicious burger at "Strasse bar" (It's is at the Barking Dog complex, but enter from the parking lot at the back. Much cheaper and probably ten times as delicious, the cheeseburger - with avocado salsa.... I have no words!) Tried to find our way from West-Geelong to the city centre. There was an obstacle - a railway, a huuugggeee railway, with no crossing on the horizon. We were on the verge of taking a run at it and climbing over the fence, when eyed a worker, asked the way, he was not local so called his co-worker who instead of trying to explain how to detour, drove us. There are still great people out there!
Finally, at "The Wool Exchange" we were. The setting looked like a high-school prom for some reason, although we were there for a rock concert. "British India" vol 4! Epic as ever. Having the time of our lives during these concerts. Got to catch up with the boys after and had a nice post-concert chillout. And 2am is the right time to hitchhike back. A Geelong local Zach took us home for gas money and Estonian chocolate.
Cooked dinner for Keiu's friend Julio and his Icelandic co-worker on saturday night and caught an awesome cover-band "Adam 12" in "Bridie O'Reillys". Everything from Blink-182, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Fall Out Boy, Billy Talent, Weezer, Simple plan to todays pop-rock hits. Worked unofficially at "The Electric Ladyland" by helping some friends close the bar to end the night. Just saying, if we'd stay in Melbourne for longer.. we'd have too many job offers. Please Byron treat us as great when we get there! Cheers!
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