Common Wealth Festivities

Mariam Makeba - FRIDAY
Meg, Stuart, Jess (my new Kiwi roommate) and I went to see Myriam Makeba in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. She was South Africa's first Grammy winner and is well known for demonstrating against the segreggation in South Africa and for her fabulous voice.

On our way home we came across Shenzo Swing, three men dressed in suits attached to arial rigs who played various instruments while swinging through the air. One guy played the violin, another the bass, and the third a guitar. They played songs like "the Devil Went Down to Georgia" and swung upside down and in circles as they played! They hardly missed a beat! It was awesome. There was also some Cirque du Soleil-esk performances in the middle that scared the pants out of us. What a cool, random thing to watch!





Shenzo Swing.... doing Cirque du Soleil type stuff.








Triathlon - SATURDAY
Saturday morning Meg and I woke up around eleven and headed to St. Kilda to watch the Men's Triathlon. It was so crowded but we were able to see all the key points of the race. I watched the guys exit the water and transition to the bike... cycle past us on each lap... then watched the fastest transition I've ever seen to the run... they were so fast I couldn't even get good pictures! Australia won the gold of course!

Pack of Cyclists in the Men's Triathlon







Gymnastics - SATURDAY
Meg, Natalie, Jess, Naomi, Gui and I went to see the women's all-around finals in the gymnastics at the stadium. For 20 years I've watched gymnastics on TV and been amazed and the floor routines, balance beam, bars, and vault were exciting to watch live except disappointing to see the competition without China, Russia, and the US. It seems like half or more of the girls fell off the balance beam and the other half off the uneven bars! The girls definitely look like little babies in person since they are only about 14 years old and weigh about 80 pounds! Australia's Chloe Sims won the event ... I have been inspired to re-learn gymnastics when I get home... better start stretching. Missy... can you help me out with this goal? ;)


The girls warming up on the balance beam.