Only four alcoholic drinks can be bought by each person. I didn’t persuade the crowd from toasting the All Blacks despite the raw sewage nectar served up to 50,000 at the Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s at the Telstra Dome.
Mistake #1 Buying a burger. I should have picked-up that crust I saw on the street. The food is overpriced and nasty here. Instead wait until a break and pop over to Mecca Bah (55a Newquay Promenade, Docklands +61 3 9642 1300). We feasted on Harissa marinated green olives, Kataifi pastry filled with Middle Eastern cheeses superb and pictured) Chickpea battered mussels w/ skordalia, Bastilla, Moroccan chicken pastries (dusted with cinnamon), Lamb meatball, baked with egg & spicy tomato sauce and much more. It’s an easy 5-minute walk. It is a shame that a world-class stadium is still serving the same old crap. BTW all the Aussies really wanted Fiji to win. Anyone but the Poms.
Mistake #2 None of the teams having anybody that could kick a bloody ball between the posts.
Mistake #3 Drinking Carlton mid strength beer. 24 hours later and the acrid taste lurks in the company of the mechanically reclaimed meat snagged in my cavities What annoyed me was that no Crown Lager was available, despite being a sponsor.
Much better to arrive near Midnight at the Rose (309 Bay St, Port Melbourne, Vic 3207
+61 3 9646 3580) and skull Stella followed by the best ever Absinthe I’ve ever tasted.
Mistake #4 Rum and coke. Allowing friends to drink Cougar and coke.
Mistake #5 Scrounging two cigarettes from Rose & Crown co-owner Chris Vafeas. But at least we got a table to see the Cat Empire (the band playing during the games’ opening) on 2 April. This pub is one of the best fish joints in town. If you haven’t already, try it.
Mistake #6 Not wearing my England’s Barmy Army rugby shirt as a counterpoint to faced painted Aussies and the Pommy bashers. Yes, an Englishman was punched in the face for cheering and English goal. I am an Australian citizen but find the unbridled nationalism of Aussie fans, the jingoistic chanting of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” a little much. There again we are a nation that only defines itself by sport. Could try harder.
Mistake #7 Arriving home 4am.
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