My Kind of Day!

Day 15-Melbourne

Friday, October 14, 2011

Today was my kind of day in every way! Woke up to a beautiful, sunny day here in Melbourne and took full advantage of it.  Bernard and I rode bikes around Parkville Park, saw the Melbourne zoo (but didn’t enter since I found a cheaper one in Sydney), and saw a native plant garden.  It’s been wonderful speaking Spanish the entire time with Bernard and, to be honest, I’ve had to literally stop and think about what country I’m in since the parks and cities remind me  of Argentina, and add speaking Spanish on top of that, and my mind is perplexed as to where in the world I am at the moment! On the way back, we stopped at the grocery store and bought my favorite brunch food—quesadillas, beans, eggs, and homemade guacamole—YUM!

After eating, Bernard, Aaron, and I got back on the bikes and rode them to downtown (I felt like I was on a suicide mission since I kept looking left when crossing the road and that did not do much good for me here) where we met up with their friend James.  They had some coffee at a café on a really cute pedestrian only street and then we saw an aboriginal art exhibit that was part of the Melbourne Art Festival going on.  Pretty fascinating photographs that were all meant to be thought-provoking about stereotypes—and they were! 

Next, I went down to the river and ran alongside it while they headed to Aaron’s art studio at MRIT University.  It was perfect weather for a run and there was plenty of scenery to look at with all the nice Aussie lads rowing in the river : ) 

I met them back at the studio, we biked back home, and now we’re back and prepping dinner before heading off to a party tonight.  Great active, outdoor day!

I could not have asked for better hosts, especially as my first couch surfing experience. They have been beyond hospitable and friendly—offering not only a place to stay, but good food, a phone when needed, a bike, awesome listening music, and anything else I could have possibly needed.  I am so grateful for their graciousness and new friendship and look forward to having a place to repay the favor for some traveler one day.