Leaps and Bounds

'I'm high on the hill looking over the bridge to the M.C.G'

                                                                                               Leaps and Bounds | Paul Kelly

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian icon. With 95,000 seats and capacity for an extra 5,000 people standing 'the G' is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

Built in 1853, the MCG served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two Cricket World Cups. It hosted both the first Cricket Test match (1877) and the first One Day International (1971) played between Australia and England. It has also maintained strong ties with Australian rules football since its codification in 1859 and has been the principal venue for Australian Football League (AFL) matches, including the AFL Grand Final, the world's highest attended league championship event. It hosted the Final for the 2022 T20 World Cup.

For years, I (Neil) have dreamed of attending an AFL match or a cricket Test at the G and this weekend, thanks to Sarah's long range planning, it happened. On an overcast and freezing midwinter Canberra Thursday afternoon, we threw our bags into the car and took to the road. Half an hour later, nearing Yass, we merged left and began the long ramble down the grey ribbon, which is the Hume Highway. We stayed overnight in Albury - one of our favourite regional towns - revisiting The Bended Elbow pub for dinner and Willow & Co for brunch next morning. Then onward ho to Melbourne, arriving at sunset at albergue Paxolard (aka Michael and Sally - Sarah's brother and sister-in-law's - place). The view from their balcony in West Melbourne.

Oh and it's also Poppy and Soda's place (actually, it's MAINLY their place!!).

A classy albergue!!

Saturday morning at the Vic Markets. This doughnut bus has a permanent queue of 50-100 people. Here's us deciding 'not today'.

At The French Shop, the fromagerie of choice chez Paxolard, we espied this special pilgrim's cheese - ideal for pilgrims to Santiago and the 'G'.

Pastries and baguette for added strength.

And ... well, why not??

After leaving the Markets, in search of further strength for the journey and in the interests of cultural diversity, we stumbled to Chinatown and a very superior Yum Cha restaurant, followed by coffee and an amble through the famed lanes and arcades of central Melbourne. Home for a brief rest and to don beanies, scarves and thermal underwear for our long-anticipated night at the footy. It was Sarah's team, the Dees (Melbourne) vs the fourth-ranked Essendon Bombers. 

The tram deposited us at Flinders St Station, whence we walked along the banks of the Yarra, past the practice courts of the Melbourne Tennis Centre.

Getting close...

And inside ... looks like it might be a damp game!

'Go you good thing'!!

The rain cleared, then returned, cleared and returned, 

leading to a sometimes scrappy but hard-fought game.

We were committed to the full 'G' experience - complete with sauce!!

Against the odds, the Dees triumphed!

Next day, we saw a different side of Melbourne - walking along the Yarra on a track that seemed miles from the city, but was in fact within a stone's throw of the centre.

We spent the afternoon playing cards and sharing our favourite music. We also enjoyed an early evening visit to Michael and Sally's local pub - called Prudence, and finished off the night with an exquisite spaghetti marinara followed by Vic Markets cheese!

It's been wonderful to explore various facets of Melbourne life, to catch up with family and have a restoring break. As we wind our way back up the grey ribbon of the Hume Highway, with the rain drizzling down and this week's Antarctic blast freezing the Eastern states, we're grateful for the time and the company, and look forward to a summer visit to the G for cricket one day!!