One dangerously friendly city
Trip Start
Oct 08, 2007
1
54
110
Trip End
Dec 16, 2008
Melbourne,
Australia
Monday, February 25, 2008
On the way back to my hostel I walk by My Beautiful Laundrette. It looks clean and bright, and has lots of sofas. Jazz music is spilling from the open door onto Brunswick Str. Here is an idea! What a better way to mix up with the locals than to wash your dirty laundry with them on Sunday afternoon. Besides, all of a sudden I feel both nostalgic about Spin City on Avenue B and 13th St and stinky, because my laundry is well overdue.
I go back at 5 pm. The Laundromat is full of people. I find an empty washer and stuff all my clouts along with the wet towel and the sweaty running outfit. I'm wearing the sweatpants and the tank top that I use as a PJ, but nobody knows that... I hope. Suddenly - a set back
Coalas on my wall
. The washing liquid machine swallows my money and spits out just a little bit of washing liquid into my plastic cup. I look around in distress, wondering if this is some sort of Australian super concentrated washing liquid of which you only need a few drops. The gall that is sitting on a nearby sofa tells me that I need a fool cup, so I put another 40c and the machine gives me nothing. Clearly, it is out of washing liquid. What to do, what to do.... I ask the same gall if she has some washing liquid on her that I can buy. She says -'I didn't bring any this time, but I live around the corner and I have some at home. I can fetch some for you if you want'. Then she does it - she goes home, brings the washing liquid and of course doesn't want any money for it. Mate, that ain't gonna happen in New York. Ever!The laundry attendant shows up ½ hour later, gives me back my 80c and apologies for the inconvenience. In the meanwhile, I call Anne - a German Melbourner that I met on the way from New Zealand and she offers to take me out for dinner and drinks tomorrow. Man, I'm loving it out here. Wonder if Sydney is going to be any different. I hope not.
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PS. My parents are currently redecorating the kids room - changing the wall papers and all. They stripped a layer of wallpaper and the pictures here are what came out. It was about 20 years ago when I pained this on my walls. I guess I've been dreaming Australia for a long time....
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Hugs & Kisses, Vik
