Luna park

We have passed luna park many times and even gone into it but have not experienced the fun rides of the park. There is also an exhibit at the melbourne museum about Luna park. Luna park is a really old amusement park. Even though it is really popular it is the smallest amusement park I have ever seen.

                                                                                                   

Australianisms

Australians drink wine - beer and liquor are too expensive.  People tell us that alcohol is taxed on its percentage of alcohol.  That seems to make beer really expensive.  I was excited to see Colorado beer at the local liquor store but didn't bring any home because of the price: $5-6.50 for a single beer.  Eric's been a little depressed about it.

Most of the time, I understand what people are saying, but they sometimes say things a little different:

Good on you = good job

How ya going? = How are you?

Ring, tingle = call on the phone

Heaps = lots

Rubber = eraser

barbie = BBQ but they do not say throw another "shrimp on the barbie"

prawns = shrimp

sultanas = raisins

capiscums = bell peppers

They are also on the metric system here.  Every once in a while we forget and ask for a pound of something when ordering meat.  Cooking with a recipe can also be frustrating because I'm constantly having to look up conversions.

Sunset and penguins

While Eric was stuck on a plane for 35 hours, Isabel and I went for a sunset walk along the beach and pier to see the fairy penguins that live at the end of St Kilda pier.  The penguins live in the break water rocks at the end of the pier and are easy to see just after sunset. But I didn't take any pictures of the penguins- no flash photography for the sake of the penguins.

Tired

Eric had to travel for 35 hours. Eric is very tired.

School

Hello guys
School has been good for me. It is very different. For once you have to wear a uniform. Also, there is no school bus to take kids to school. I really like it that you have to be independent to get to your classrooms by your self. I think it is cool that can go into your classrooms early so you can get your self organized be for the long day ahead. My school colors are Navy Blue & Gold. We have such a big school. The walk to school is about 10 minutes long. We go by the canal and visit all the amazing birds. I saw that Heather already told you the types of birds.

Isabel Maloney ;>

Footy

We went to see our first professional footy (Australian rules football) match last weekend. Our home team is the St Kilda Saints, who played the Western Bulldogs. Notice where our team ranks in the standings. They are apparently a perennial doormat, which I can appreciate being a Cubs fan. The match was unexpectedly entertaining, even for Heather (I think she liked the short shorts).

In a few weeks, the AFL playoffs start, which floods the town with fanatics from all over the country. I think we are going to Tasmania then.

Clarification

Eric reported that I was attacked by cockatoos, but what he failed to mention was that I was holding a tray of birdseed that I purchased from a national park employee.  Here are some better pictures of that experience:

:

Internet!

We finally got internet today (August 1) after a month of waiting and dealing with "Dale." So here are a few things that we've been doing in the past weeks in addition to what Heather already told you.

We've continued our bonding with the local wildlife, including seeing:

A kookaburra....

and many kangaroos in the national and state parks,

.....and Heather got attacked by cockatoos out in the "wild."

We've taken quite a bit of time walking around our environs in Elwood and St. Kilda.  Footie is really big here. The local pro team St. Kilda is in last place in the AFL, but we still think we should root for them. We did run across a lower level game in our neighborhood last weekend. We're going to try to make it to an AFL game before the season ends, or next Fall.