It’s been a rough 2 days. I’m sure it was compounded by the fact that I’m still tired from last week’s event as well as didn’t really catch up on sleep this weekend.
Before flying into Melbourne Sunday, I tried to reach my accommodation’s contact to find out where I was staying in Melbourne; she didn’t respond to my texts, emails or voice mails. After landing in Melbourne, I talked to my AU boss (Philippe) who let me know that my contact didn’t check her work phone/emails over the weekend. Sigh. He was kind enough to book a hotel for me, so I had the treat of semi-unpacking for one night, in my 5th place
· Chews Lane (Wellington)
· Wakefield (2 different apartments – Wellington)
· Bondi (Sydney)
· Stanton Hotel (1 night – Melbourne)
· Medina Executive Northbank (Melbourne)
At this point, I’m tired of my clothes and they’re probably tired of me too. I’m trying not to think about having to pack/unpack a couple more times before I do my last packing. Since I will be going somewhere for last week of August, I need to figure out the smoothest way to get from here to Sydney to the destination without having to spend a night in a hotel in between. As well as, I’ll need to stay in Sydney for at least one night before I fly out on Sat. Sept. 1. Ok, that was rambling, boring stuff, but I miss talking to y’all so, tolerate my written rambling J
I jumped into a cab from the hotel to work Monday morning. The cab driver ended up dropping me 2 blocks away from the office, so I got to wheel my crap the rest of the way. Not a good way to start your day..cussing as your sweating.
After being in a fog all day, my blackberry got wiped out. The phone was asking me to type in “blackberry” (a first) and then the password. I typed in what I could have sworn was my password (haven’t changed it since I’ve had it) but the system didn’t like it, so it wiped out everything. I’m hoping that when I switch back to the US Sim card, it’ll still have that information on there, but at this point, I don’t have anyone’s number in my phone, including my AU number. No clue what it is, so I get to scrounge around for my paperwork and hope I can find my number.
I was tempted to order room service, but I figured I needed to get some fresh air. I wandered down the street at ended up at Bertha Brown’s. I asked for Jameson and Ginger Ale, nope, they were out. Then I asked if they had Hendrik's Gin..nope, out of that too (“sorry, that’s an empty bottle on the shelf). At that point, I was tired of asking for drinks they didn’t have, so I didn’t even want to think about what to have for dinner.
The friendly bartender told me about their special “Parm and Pot.” Parm is chicken parmesan and Pot is a specific size of a beer (Pony = 5 oz, Small glass = 6 oz, Glass = 7 oz, Pot = 10 oz, Schooner = 15 oz, Pint = 20 oz). I’m not really a fan of chicken parmesan or beer, but I was happy that someone did the deciding for me and am a sucker for anything that sounds tempting...parm and pot? Who'd pass that up?!
The hotel I was in Sunday night was in a busier area (think it was near Chinatown), but about a 15 minutes walk from work. My new place doesn’t have much character (set up like a typical long-term corporate apartment), but it does have a nice balcony view and is a 5 minute walk from work. I’m going to try and get motivated in the mornings to do a short walk before work...get a feel for the hood. And by hood, I mean, a lot of gentleman's clubs...odd.
I haven’t seen much of Melbourne, but the downtown seems to have a different feel than Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District) with trams running throughout the city. Weather wise, it’s colder here.
I’m already thinking about what I can do this weekend. I may tackle the Queen Victoria Market and/or do the Great Ocean Road (full day outing). I only have this weekend to explore; next weekend, I am working both Sat. and Sun for a two day event (Mon-Tues) and then I fly out Sat. the 25.
I continue to be grateful for my experience, but I can also be human (tired and crabby), and I definitely had a human moment(s).
