Just A Girl And The World: First Trip To The City

So I haven't really been up to much the last few days, just settling in and trying to sort a few things out like a bank account, medicare, phone etc. Sue has got me into playing netball already within a day of arriving and on Thursday I played 2 games. The first was a morning game, what they call Nannaball (and I can see why), the second was an evening game which was much more enjoyable (even though we lost). I even had to use my expertise defending skills at GD for half a game and we all know how good they are! For the other quarters I played shooter or goaler as they call it out here. They are seriously crazy-mad for sport out here, if you really wanted you could probably play 3 times a day, 7 days a week, with even the option to play mixed netball which Sue told me is rather big out here! Even down to people running and cycling, there is about 10 times the amount of people out and about compared to back home!

Anyway today, Saturday, I took my first trip into the city - exciting and to do this I had my first tram experience! I spent the afternoon just having a good wander around Melbourne heading first to Federation Square and then heading along the Yarra river to the Melbourne and Olympic Park which is home to the Australian Open tennis, national tennis centre, MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), AFL (Aussie rules football) and many others.

Federation Square

Melbourne Skyline

Melbourne and Olympic Parks

I then walked back along the other side of the river to Southbank. It was lovely, with loads of restaurants and bars backing on to the Yarra river. There is a big shopping complex that runs along it called the Crown, which holds what I can only imagine to be a 10* hotel (Crown hotel) and a huge casino, running the whole length of the complex. I didn't go in but I'll save that and my money for another day!

Southbank

View from Southbank

Eureka Skydeck

I also continued my journey round the Yarra to Docklands harbour before heading back via Southbank again because it was all lit up in the dark and looked really pretty to Federation Square for some food. I found a little outside burger bar tucked away at the back of the square and sat under a heater, infront of a big screen showing some AFL with a burger and $9 glass of wine (at least it was good wine worthy of $9!). Time to jump back on the tram and head home!