After our camping/backpacking trip (and a day of recovery and a catch-up from work), we celebrated at an Italian restaurant. Pizzas for everyone!
On Tony's wish list of things to do once he turned 50 (aka his "bucket list") was to see one of the Grand Slams (or majors) of tennis. And lo and behold, Melbourne hosts one of these 4 grandslams--The Australian Open. Here is the big stadium where most of the biggest matches are held, the Rod Laver Arena.
Tony is really excited to be in Rod Laver arena, and Mac and Ollie are excited for him. (They thought it was cool too!)
One of the best of all time (and one of the cutest), Rafa Nadal was playing, and we were treated to a 4 hour, 5 set match!
A few days later, we went to the practise courts, and Ollie watches intently as Nadal practises.
Carolyn poses for a shot downtown on the Yarra River. (Only locals know how to say "Yarra").
More sites on the Yarra. Here is a pub at the bottom of a bridge over the Yarra.
In January, Carolyn spent some time preparing for a colloquium, and then delivered one at Swinburne University in Melbourne. A colloquium is an hour-long talk given to faculty and students at another university, and is often accompanied by lab tours, meetings with students and faculty, etc. Here Carolyn's colleague, Diane and her husband (Ashley; also a Melbourne professor) host us for a traditional Sri Lankan feast cooked by Ashley. What a meal!
More views of the Yarra and the skyline of Melbourne.
A picnic with Mary and the kids in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens after one of the tennis matches. On the menu: Sushi and lots of other fine goodies.
On our last few days in Melbourne, we re-visited our old stomping grounds where we lived 12 years ago: St. Kilda, a funky beach community close to Elwood, where Mary and family live. One of the sites of St. Kilda is an old fashioned amusement park (started in 1912), called Luna Park. Here at the entrance Tony does his John Travolta routine from the movie Saturday Night Fever. Those who have seen the movie will likely conclude that Tony and John's character have very little in common, including their choice of dance attire.
Sipping coffee in a café near the beach in St. Kilda.
Sweets shops seem to line the streets of St. Kilda. Carolyn is tempted.
We are off to Tasmania! Sad to see Melbourne with all its charms behind us, but new adventures await...
Love to all, C & T
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