Week 17, in the third city

This weekend, my long-standing plan to travel to Melbourne finally came to fruition. Casting the only shadow over the proceedings was the fact that I'd arranged for us to be out of Sydney on one of the biggest weekends of the year, the Mardi Gras parade. But being in Melbourne at least meant that we got to ascend not only Melbourne's highest building, but Australia's highest building and (let me make sure I get this right) the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere: the aptly named Eureka Tower.



We duly paid our $16 and in exchange were treated to a lift up to the 88th floor (the equivalent distance of walking up the stairs at Covent Garden tube, in my guesstimation - never recommended), and a razzle-dazzle exhibit on how the building was, you know, built. Apparently in high winds the tower can lean up to 30cm in each direction, and the windows on the highest floors are coated with 24 carat gold (which must make the views a bit disappointingly crap from up there).

It really is a great view, though, and inspired all sorts of chats between Tom & I about space travel. Here is Tom reflecting on what skills he could bring to the first colonial mission to Mars:



I think he settled on carpentry in the end. To infinity and beyond!

Ali x

Week 15: Signed, sealed delivered...late

While in York at this very sweet cottage in the country I noticed that the oven had an unusual noticed tacked to its front. As if anyone would be so stupid as to remove it...

Gem xx

Week 17: dizzy heights

*This challenge is now set for week 17!*

In tribute to our good ol' Shanghai nights, please find the highest accessible man-made point in your city, and pay it a little visit! Judging by your face in this particular photo, being so high up will make you very happy -



Love, ali x

Week 15-and-a-bit: Get well soon Gem!

Love, ali xxx

Week 15: "LOL!"

We have the illustrious Tom to thank for this week's challenge fulfilment, having spotted the winning entry on a circuitous cycle ride back from football one evening. Trouble was, he couldn't remember the precise location of said sign afterwards, so I was lucky to find it again, located on the corner of Powell Street and Bourke Street, less than a kilometre away from our humble abode!



Now, it would have been possible for an unscrupulous soul to fake completion of this challenge, using the interweb. So intent am I on avoiding fakery, I am even willing to upload this highly unflattering picture of me in front of said sign, just to prove it's for real! Now THAT'S sacrifice...



Love, ali x

Week 14: ROCKS

Oh dear, it's always embarrassing to have to post last week's challenge after a shiny new one has already been launched...nevertheless, I can't deprive you of a few chance shots of our tour around The Rocks. Yes, you may recall we went to exactly the same area last week, but this time there were no ghosts, only rain. Lots of rain. And, like Gem, we couldn't get to grips with this newfangled podcasting technology and went back to the tried-and-tested ink & paper method of following a route.



We got about two thirds of the way through this one, before the rain beat us and we ended up seeking refuge in one of Sydney's oldest pubs, the Lord Nelson, to fill our bellies and to marvel at drinks served in real pint-sized pints. It was almost like being in London on a rainy Saturday.



Love, ali x

Week 15: Sign of the times

Find an example of a comical sign in your city.

Please see below for inspiration.

Gem xx

Week 14: Ghosts and Gaslights

I was looking forward to this week's challenge and although I didn't stick to the word of the brief, I definitely stuck to the spirit, as my video will show. I bought this 'walking tour' book hoping that it would show me the darker, hidden sides to London. It promised to take me down alleyways and into hidden courtyards where few dare.

I must admit about 3 minutes into the walk, we were hitting brick walls, well actually a locked gate but the metaphor still applies. As such this locked gate meant we couldn't actually experience about half of the wondrous treasures and secrets this book professed to unlock. Suffice to say I was a bit peeved so went off piste to create my own history.

Highlights include seeing the Dundee Courier on Fleet Street and weaving down 'Hen and Chicken Court' to get to the hidden entrance of Sweeney Todd's shop, the demon barber of Fleet Street. Please see below.

I will persevere with my book of London walks as I refuse to be beaten by locked gates and Masonic handshakes.

Onwards!

Week 14: take a walk

Podcasting is a technology that knows no bounds in its potential for entertaining, amusing and informing. This week, harness the power of the podcast by downloading and following a city walking tour podcast. Here are a couple of examples:

http://londonwalks.libsyn.com/ (for you?)

www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/aboutsydney/visitorguidesinformation/historicalwalkingtours.asp (for me?)



Ali x

Week 13: Rope

On Thursday night, Sion and I went to see an Alfred Hitchcock play called Rope based on a true story of two gay lovers in the 1920s who strangled a young boy in a bid to commit 'the perfect murder'. The end was worthy of particular attention seeing as the dead man emerged out of the chest in the middle of the stage by his neck. Very scary, I even made a little bleat.

Gem xxx