Friday, Feb. 5th, Racetrack:

Today Anna dropped Greg at work so we had the car. We were headed out to Williamstown by the harbor, a funky, high-end suburb that reminded me of La Jolla in CA. 

 

 

We started at a beautiful nursery along the second major river, the Maribyrnong, where tons of people were out jogging on both sides of the river. At the top of the nursery we had a lovely view of the river with Eggs Benedict again for breakfast. We then made a stop at the Flemington Racecourse, Victoria’s oldest racecourse. It’s home of the Melbourne Cup. This is also where the tents were set up for Cirque de Soleil (on my list of things to do - I’ve never been to one - but don’t know if it will fit in to schedule) This racetrack is only used a few times a year. I’ve never actually been to a racetrack so this was cool. After driving around the grounds and stopping for a photo of Phar Lap, Anna decided we’d go into the Tavern (not for our daily beer - it was only about 10) but to see if we could view the grandstands and the best view of downtown Melbourne from there. We found a security guy who graciously unlocked the doors for us and up we went. 

 

  

It is a spectacular view over the grassy course to downtown and the city skyline. Inside on the ceiling were some murals showing the history of horse racing here with horses, jockeys, trainers, etc. from the 1800s to present day. The security guy told us to drive around the buildings to see the stables where the racehorses are kept before the race, the ring where the winners go, an old stable from Cable, a famous horse, from the 1800s. We did a  photo with a statue of Bart Cummings, the most winningest horse trainer, who is still alive. Got more great photos here. 

 

We then headed down to Williamstown and sat near the docks where many yachts were moored and had a refreshing beer (this is Australia’s favorite beverage!) We then drove over the huge bridge built in 1979 called West Gate. We had stopped under it on the way to Williamstown at a memorial to the accident that happened during construction. At lunchtime when workers were under one of the spans, the entire span dropped and killed 35 workers. Anna was working in Children’s hospital at the time and actually was looking out a window and saw what looked like a big explosion. I was a bit nervous driving over this huge bridge span that was so high so ships could go under. 

Williamstown was where the first port that was settled. She took me past the mortuary, a blue stone building built by convict laborers. The first person dead to use the mortuary was the director of the construction when the laborers turned on him and killed him. This really tickled Anna’s sense of humor. 

Next stop was the Time Ball tower, a big granite tower/lighthouse with a huge ball that was dropped at 1 pm every day to send the signal to Flagstaff Hill so that everyone could coordinate the correct time. All the harbor clocks could be set to the right time. We headed back to then cross the West Gate bridge to head downtown. Anna dropped me off at the Victoria Gallery that had a fashion exhibit of a French designer called Jean Paul Gauillet, who began in the 70s. I was meeting up with Anna’s friend Nina and one of her friends, both of whom had been dressmakers and pattern makers to walk through.

 

 

I got there first and waited by the water wall, a huge glass wall with water running down the outside right close to the glass. Kind of cool! As I looked to where you get tickets, there was a huge snaking line like an airport security to get tickets. I thought maybe I should start waiting in the line. As I headed there, a woman stopped me and when she asked my age, she said I should talk to the guard at the head of the line and he sent me to a second line with no people, to a window on the left to immediately get my ticket!! So cool! It was $22 AUS to get in. I then went out to find Nina and Jodi coming in. They went to the back of this long queue. I went back to the security guy and asked if I could get tickets in that shorter line for my friends/guides. He said yes, I did and we got right in!!! I think we would have been waiting an hour or more in that other queue.

The exhibit was the first ever anywhere for this designer. Anna thinks the guy actually came there for the opening. The exhibit was closing Sunday so that is probably why it was crowded. It was hard to get past people to read the plaques. It was an interesting exhibit, but very few outfits I would EVER have worn! Lots of corset type wear. He designed Madonna’s musical tour with some of her booster outfits as well as several awards dresses for Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss, Sarah Jessica Parker, and others. He had a fetish for sailor wear and several of his men’s outfits were displayed, like a mannequin like him with a striped sailor top made of MINK!! Or blue sequined pants! He was pretty far out there! 

Nina and I took the train, a first here, back to the suburbs where she had left her car and she dropped me at Anna’s.

I had a dinner invitation at 5:30 from David Magris, a friend that Kerry and Jay had met in 1999 on their Kontiki bus trip out west, when she graduated. It was a graduation present from her dad and Jay went along. It was all foreigners, many Australians and them. They were the only “couple” on the trip. So when they got to Las Vegas the tour directors picked them to “get married” by an Elvis Presley preacher, promising not to step on his blue suede shoes, etc.! I remember she called me fro there and said,” Guess what, Mom? We got married in Las Vegas!” There was dead silence on my end!!!

Anyway, David then came to CT to stay with his mother’s cousin, Toni Bunocci in Danbury. Turns out she worked at Bethel High school and we had met! She was friends with Cara, the media specialist there, and Cara and I are friends. Small world!! So David stayed there a week and then went to Boston and stayed with Jason for a week.That’s how he got to know them better and they have stayed in touch. He was invited to their wedding and vice versa but neither was able to attend. However, they have stayed in touch over the years. She gave me his email and I sent a quick message to say I had arrived in Melbourne. He invited me to dinner at his Mom’s (Toni’s cousin) Phil (Philomena) who lived nearby Anna. He picked me up and I had a delightful evening with his family.

 

His wife Leah (they were married in 2007, a year after Kerry and Jay) is a nurse but, since, they have 3 children - Jack, soon 6, Aiden, 4 and Hayley, 3 - she just works on weekends when they need her, in intensive care. So after dinner, since it was Friday night, she went off to work. He seems like a great dad and handled the 3 of them himself. 

We had a delicious dinner, I thought, of lasagna with some beer. I thought we were finished and then Phil brought out chicken cutlets, a big salad, eggplant slices, potato cheese casserole and baked chicken legs!!!! I made an effort to eat a little of each!! But I was stuffed!

David is a high school teacher at the Catholic school where both he and Leah went (but they didn’t date until much later, after university). He seems like a really dedicated teacher and loves it. He started out in business/accounting and hated it. So later went back for a year so he could teach. He has a class of boys (it’s co-ed school but they segregate the classes; finding it very successful.) He teaches several subjects but talked about this one on becoming a man, where they study various male figures in history and what made them great. Very interesting! It’s so great to meet a teacher who really values and loves the profession. And they are better paid here than in the US. 

David then looked at some of the optional tours on my tour and gave his opinion of which ones the thought might be worthwhile to help me decide. He then loaded the three very tired children into his SUV and dropped us back off at Anna’s. He said he hoped to bring his family to CT for Christmas (their summer holidays) one year and then New Year’s in Foxboro with K and J. Fun!

Hope he brings Phil with him as she was a hoot! She is early 60s, works at an elementary school with special needs kids. She had just spent a few weeks in Danbury with Toni and other family. 

 End of a great day!!