Friday Night Drinks at the office were followed by my first visit to a bar in the CBD, The Robot. Most of the bars are down alleyways throughout the city and this was no exception. The name was not at all fitting for the atmosphere, a warm and cozy, two level saki bar. The group started with around 10 people (two guys from my group and others I didn't know), but slowly tapered off. One by one, each of the girls left, leaving me with five guys. Bugger. I decided to leave the boys to be boys and was home by 12:30.
Even with an early night, I struggled to get moving today. It's so much less exciting to venture on my own than with friends. I spent most of the day at home. I fumbled with where to hang/place/dry my wet sheets. This no drier thing is killing me. I also watched a footy game on TV and surprisingly really enjoyed it. Footy is their abbreviation for Australian Rules Football, which is HUGE here. There's a lot less stopping and time outs than in American football. The game seemed to move a lot faster. None of them wear any kind of padding; it's just (short!!) shorts and jersey tops. I'm trying to learn a little before I go to my first game.
Tonight I went to The Espy, technically called The Esplanade Hotel (many of the pubs are called hotels here - very confusing). The Espy has been open since 1878 and is a well known music venue in Melbourne. They have three different stages, some free and some requiring a cover. Their website says that on an average week, the pub plays host to over 50 stages across 3 stages 7 days a week. I was about halfway there when I realized that I forgot my ID. I contemplated turning back to walk home and get it, but realized that in my three weeks here, I have not once been carded and decided to take my chances. Sure enough, I walked right in without a problem. A little different than in the U.S.? I watched a couple bands play, both very different music styles. The one pictured above was terrific - a reggae funk band. The other band was smaller and sounded like a strange mix of Jason Mraz and Thievery Corporation - as if you could ever mix those two. I know, weird! I once again stink like smoke and can't wait for the smoking ban to start July 1st!
Tonight I went to The Espy, technically called The Esplanade Hotel (many of the pubs are called hotels here - very confusing). The Espy has been open since 1878 and is a well known music venue in Melbourne. They have three different stages, some free and some requiring a cover. Their website says that on an average week, the pub plays host to over 50 stages across 3 stages 7 days a week. I was about halfway there when I realized that I forgot my ID. I contemplated turning back to walk home and get it, but realized that in my three weeks here, I have not once been carded and decided to take my chances. Sure enough, I walked right in without a problem. A little different than in the U.S.? I watched a couple bands play, both very different music styles. The one pictured above was terrific - a reggae funk band. The other band was smaller and sounded like a strange mix of Jason Mraz and Thievery Corporation - as if you could ever mix those two. I know, weird! I once again stink like smoke and can't wait for the smoking ban to start July 1st!
