Unbelievable!: Thursday 19th October- the Mecca!

Today was my morning to do the MCG tour. So I caught the train into town, got off at Parliament Station and walked for all I worth from there to fit as much in as possible. Heading down Spring Street towards Flinders and through the MCG end of Federation Square so I could walk along the river for a bit and take the bridge across the railway lines to the MCG.

Before the walk way is an orchard of bells on posts - which ring a various intervals during the day. Very striking against the blue sky and when chiming somewhat disarming as they are up the wrong way!!

Virgin Money were hosting a barbecue and using the hot air balloon to drop cash later in the day - sadly I missed the dropping.. boo!

This is the Rod Laver Arena from another angle and you can see all the tennis courts they use for the Australian Open. Catch the tournament in January! Be better if Pat Rafter was still playing! :-)

'Proximities'

The walkway turns into a bridge - with speakers in the walls - called 'Proximities' the bridge 'subjects' the ears to some interesting songs - or as the explanation says 'the shifting sound scape'. It reminded me of when Tate Modern filled the turbine hall with speakers and indeed walking its length was also a shifting sound scape. Which proves against all the hype that Melbourne IS a cultured place beyond its sports fetish!

Me and a speaker!

The Melbourne Cricket Ground

The view of the Mecca I was going to visit - the MCG and its iconic floodlights

No 6
They held the Olympics in 1956 - though I seem to recall the horsey based sports took place elsewhere due to travel times back then!

The tour of the MCG was similar to that which I did at Lords (however only a mere $10) last year with Stu and the family while he was over. A member of the Melbourne Cricket Club take you under their wing and share their knowledge. My guide for the morning was Ted. And for the start of the tour it was just me and Ted! Ted was a happy chap - he had reached the 50 year mile mark as a member which meant his subscriptions went down from $550 to $15. Now that has to be worth a smile. He had never played cricket but we covered the topic of the Ashes last year and us winning and the hopes of a good competition this summer down under. I explained why I was in Melbourne, the wedding and trip to Tasmania. We were then joined by a Swedish family. During the winter its AFL here - so in between sporting seasons they have to re-lay the pitch and lay the wicket which has been growing elsewhere... here's the groundsmen hard it!