Melbourne Feb 2007

Time for a break! This time we went to Melbourne just for some R and R time, and to play with the grown-ups! Virgin flight to Tullamarine. coach to Mercure Grand right near Flinders Street Station, where a fully appointed private apartment was to be our home for the next four nights. We toured the city courtesy of the free tram, and also the free bus, and decided how to spend our time. Day one we went for a rivercruise on terribly squat ferry boats, had a comfortable coach ride up into the Dandenongs, and beat the heat by staying under the tall trees. Back to the city on the bus, and a fabulous finish to this lovely day with our three course dinner on board the restored Colonial Tram. Free drinks flowed as this stately tram slowly meandered its way around the city and the immediate environs. Feeling sated with the food wine, and the sights of the day we slowly wended our way back to our hotel. Next day we found the famous Bourke Street Mall, trawled through Chinatown, and had a fascinating visit to the Old Melbourne Jail. Excellent penal museum, with death masks of those who had been hanged there(including Ned Kelly), displayed the cruelty of those early colonial days. Upsetting - (sure there were ghosts). We caught the train from Flinders Street and travelled to Williamstown, the first port in Victoria. After alighting we walked to the jetty, and climbed aboard a tiny bus where a local chracter took us around and explained the history of the place, (Where Diver Dan had his shed, where Blue Heelers and Charlotte's Web were filmed, etc.). On Wednesday we explored the centre of Moving Images at Federation square, and found a photo of my grandfather at the Moments in History exhibition of black and white photographsby Bill Brandt at the Victoria Art Gallery. As it was Valentines day, we took a picnic to the Botanical Gardens, and watched the Australian Shakespeare production of Midsummer Nights Dream - how romantic. We both think that we will have to come again - so much to do and see in Melbourne.