Melbourne Australia - Friday Night on the Town

Met up with local friends and enjoyed two great spots on a very busy Friday night in Melbourne.  Long weekend plus footie fans in their scarves and hats everywhere.
Started out at the old "shot tower" built in the center of a mall - and finally got the history and why it existed.  Quite interesting.  The process of making ammunition round....
We stopped at a place called Berlin that you have to wait at a door, much like the "wall" in its day, to get in.  Once in you get seated in either the East or the West - and the decor is appropriate to each.  Lots of fun - great concept.
And then dinner at an Asian Fusion spot - Gingerboy.  A great mix of Asian tastes. .

Melbourne Australia - early arrival and time to kill

Landing at 7am gives you a whole day to enjoy but doesn't get you in to your room until sometime after lunch.
Fortunately, the hotel of choice had a gym with shower and I got cleaned up and hit the streets.  Great sunny spring day in Melbourne.  Lots of great old and new architecture that all blends together.
A room with a view, on the edge of the central business district and a park across the street - could get used to this spot.  New neighborhood for me to stay in.

Melbourne Australia - Big Footie Weekend

AFL, Australian Rules, Football grand final this weekend in Melbourne.
A local Melbourne Team that hasn't been in the finals for 37 years is in - plus a team from Adelaide.
Only in Victoria do you have a public holiday for the grand football finals - and of course a horse race a few weeks later.
Friday featured a parade to kick off the big weekend.  And it was a great sunny spring day so great to be out with the crowd.

Los Angeles CA - LAX

Layover at LAX on my way to Australia.
More layover time than I needed and too early to check in so I just walked from end to end of the airport at couple times and took in the 80F day and all of the people coming and going.
Slow, slow experience to get inside - glad I don't have to come through here very often - wow.

Saint Paul MN - Hot and steamy day 3

Day 3 of 90 plus temps.  Record to have three days in a row in MN this time of year.
Also, got to hang with Abbey, Eileen and Kindra.

Saint Paul MN - hot and steamy bike ride

Day 2 of 90 plus temperatures in Minnesota in late September.
Stopped at a new spot in downtown Saint Paul to check it out and cool down a bit before we headed back up the hill to get home.

Saint Paul MN - The first day of fall

3PM on Friday the first day of fall and the temperature is sitting at 92F - normal high this time of year would be 65.
And of course if comes with the summer humidity to match.
Expect a hot and steamy bike ride in the morning.