It was hot today. I'll leave it at that as I know it's wet/cold/windy at home. I trained on a route around the river near the Commonwealth Stadium. Each lap took in a smooth tarmac path and when we saw it on Thursday, it was very quiet.
Today was Saturday and it wasn't. There are public barbeques alongside the path - you put your two dollars in and throw on your meat. Saturday is obviously barbie day here in Melbourne and by lap three of fifteen it was heaving. Whole, extended families took over each barbeque and were soon standing across the path muching on burgers and salad. They were great though, and I hardly had to leave the path - they all moved out of my way and cleared a 'tour de France' style path as I approached.
Went to watch an Aussie Rules Football match this evening. Fantastic. Took me until half time (when I had a chat with an elderly fan - complete with team socks) to work out the basics, but what a game. Non-stop, end to end action. No rolling around when they fall over here - smack, and straight up. Punches mean trouble from the ref, so there was plenty of shoulder barging and eye-balling instead. Four referees, guys in dayglo green who run on willy-nilly during play to pass on tactics, a seven foot giant on one team and a crowd that was passionate and friendly to their rival supporters (no segregation here) made for a memorable evening.