Melbourne
Posted: February 4th, 2010 by Courtney
We arrived in Melbourne and were happy to see our friends, Rachel and Carl after about an hour wait in Quarantine (Customs for the Americans). The next morning we were off to do one of the most Australian things you could in Melbourne, watch the Australian Open. We spend the day checking out the matches in some of the smaller courts as well as watching the top matching on a big screen on the Melbourne Park grounds.
At the Open
One of the Matches
We also arrived just in time for Australia Day on January 26th, when all of Australia takes the day off work to celebrate the country and have a barbie in the backyard. We were luck to be invited to on of Rachel’s Aussie friends for just such barbie.
Carl, Rachel, Courtney, and Scott at a proper Australia Day Barbie
Scott learning to play cricket
Melbourne is a fantastic city with wonderful architecture, great restaurants and cafes, and tons of things to do. Scott and I are quite happy here and think we are really going to fit right in.
Melbourne from the River Yarra
Federation Square and some cool architecture
Here are some of the new Australian terms I have learned in the last few days:
- Popsicle is an “icy pole”
- Candy are “lollies”
- “Lemonade” is anything fizzy and citrus (i.e Sprite, Lemon flavored water), but it’s not lemonade like we would make at home
- Soda pop is a “fizzy drink”
- Ketchup is “tomato sauce” (But like Andrew said, its not really the same)
- A “flat white” and a “tall black” are types of coffee
- Breakfast is “brekky”
- Australian rules football is “footie”
- How are you? is “How yar goin?”
- Mosquito is a “mozzie”
Comments
Comment from Andrew
Time February 6, 2010 at 3:57 am
Good call on Philip Island. It’s a fun place. If you want “normal” lemonade ask for old fashion lemonade. And while footie is Aussie Rules over there (go Demons!) it’s rugby over here. Plus tomato sauce isn’t really ketchup. It’s the closest you’ll get, but def not the same! Try a steak and cheese pie, go for a night out at the Espie in St.Kilda, and there’s even a Canadian bar in Melbs called “Mooseheads” or something like that…you’ll get good Canadian beer….otherwise drink a crownie…
Comment from Arlene
Time March 9, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Don’t forget:
A jacket is a “jumper”
An elevator is a “lift”
A line is a “queue”
and Take-out is “Take-away”
Comment from et
Time February 5, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Melbourne was our favorite Oz bigtown! Make sure to go to the chocolate cafe called Koko Black (I think that is the name) really good chocolate everything. There is also a beer I had that was pretty tasty but I have have to get back to you on that one…safe travels.