The Award Tour: Hello Melbourne…

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 3:

Welcome to Melbourne. This is coming from a tourist and frequent visitor. Although when I’m not holidaying in this city, BAD things happen to me. So any delusions of living this cosmopolitan hub of fun with shitty weather and LOTS of Footy for me to watch can never happen. EVER!

Melbourne is one of my favourite places in the world, even though anytime (twice) I tried to live here, things go horribly wrong. I take that a sign that this is pretty much like my 2nd ‘Fuck Buddy City” (the other FBC being Sydney). I come over every so often, we have fun, share some experiences and some food and then I go home, no attachments and no commitment.

As I’m tending to keep to myself on this tour, I’m not heading on any wild drinking expeditions with any foreigner this time around. Maybe next time my German and Canadian friends.

So I’ve moved from one of the best nights of life in that ATCQ show. I will rave about it to any who asks though. They’re playing in Melbourne as I type; I hope they get what I got from their last show. Everyone deserves that kind of natural high.

Melbourne ayyyy…

I touched down in Melbourne in blustery, cold weather. I was psyching myself up for a rough landing with lots of turbulence and a bit of scare. Our pilot did incredibly well and touched down smoothly…and I was almost disappointed.

Jumped on the Skybus and headed into the city where one of my best friends Simona was waiting for me. Mona and I have been friends for years, we started as ‘Keypals’ and eventually met when I was studying in Melbourne, the friendship has just grown from there. Her family loves me, especially her mum. She’s everything you picture in a stereotypical Italian Mama, feeds you, shows incredible hospitality and thinks the world of me for some reason. Maria is awesome.

I checked in my new hostel, and headed out for lunch with Mona. We headed a place she knows called “Vietnamese Noodle House”. Creatively titled huh?

What’s hilarious/awesome about this place is the service. It’s fucking horrible! The practically throw the plate at you, they yell at each other in Vietnamese and when you pay they stare you like my Dad killed theirs in battle at Long Tan (for the record my dad never was conscripted/served in Vietnam). I want to go back. I may tomorrow, because the food is amazing, it’s super cheap and I love the novelty of being treated like shit in a restaurant by EVERYONE, it’s an experience.

“Vietnamese Noodle House: Go for the Food, Not the Service.”

We then kicked onto the least patrolled cafe in Melbourne (I can’t remember its name but it was in Federation Square). Mona and I watched 3 couples walk out of the place without paying for the coffee. We could have easily done this ourselves but it was a really good Affogato. So they got my patronage and money. That and I think the waitress who served me had a crush on me. Who wouldn’t…..what?

Then I was treated to Pasta by the Giacominato family for dinner (free dinners and hugs are always a good thing) and then took a train back to the hostel. During that trip I got some phone time in with my dear Renae, as much fun as I’m having I do miss her. She is definitely something worth coming home to. I look forward to seeing her on Wednesday.

Tomorrow will be a day of not doing much apart from sleep, listening to Podcasts and then some shopping for a Beanie and new headphones before heading out to the MCG for Essendon Vs Collingwood. I love the thought of 80,000 rabid Victorians going nuts over their footy. Wish me luck.

With Good Coffee

Gav