Blog: 14th March 2006
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XVIII Commonwealth Games Blog: 14th March 2006 |
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TRACK 4
"Welcome to the Melbourne Observation Deck - 253 metres above Melbournes streets".
Well what better way to see Melbourne all at once than to visit it's Observation Deck. At 250 metres and 55 floors high it's the southern hemisphere's tallest office building.. and it only took me 38 seconds to get up there.. no not a Commonwealth record, just a very fast lift. Once at the top you can see for miles…
Right out to the Tasmanian sea.. … you can also trace the beautiful Yarra River snaking its way through the city.. and gaze at the leafy green parks dotted around. And if its Commonwealth Games arenas you want to peer into .. try one of the hi powered binoculars to get a close up of say the Telstra Stadium for the rugby sevens or the MCGs 100 thousand seater stadium - where athletics will be on show. Now to be honest the city centre seems pretty typical with its office blocks and busy streets full of trams and taxis but there's an interesting contrast between old and new on Flinders Street.
SFX
In particular the Flinders Street train station.. a 100 year old building that looks like something shipped in from 19th century Victorian England .. it's an pattern of brown and orange brick .. with a dome at one end and clock tower at the other.
Just beyond that you've got Federation Square -and its anything but square! The hip place to be during the Games.. this is where one of the most popular live sites will be.. hundreds of people will gather here to sample big screen action from the Games and a host of live music.
This square feels like you've been catapulted into the future.. the buildings surrounding it certainly get your attention… they look like glass buildings on the inside.. and on the outside they're covered with all kinds of weird and wonderful shapes. From a distance it looks like someone has thrown these buildings together .. but it makes for an interesting effect and its right next to the River Yarra leading down to the main stadium the MCG.
You know I've read that Melbourne is the most livable place in the world … well the place is pleasant and the people seem to be friendly enough. It would have to be with over 130 different ethnic groups all living together. Well I haven't had the chance to meet all of them yet… but from my sample of Italian hospitality I'm impressed. The other night our team went out to eat at an Italian restaurant and nearly stayed there for the duration of the Games. Piles of pasta, and ice cream made us feel very welcome and very full and ensures we'll always be the reporters rather than the athletes… But now everyone in Melbourne is looking forward to a feast of sport as the 18th Commonwealth Games springs into life!
Blog entries:
13th Mch
14th Mch
16th Mch
17th Mch
18th Mch
19th Mch
20th Mch
21st Mch
22nd Mch
23rd Mch
24th Mch
25th Mch
26th Mch
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Last Updated: March 18 2006 09:29:00. |