After the Airport Shuttle it was a mere few mins walk but it was late when we checked in at the apartment hotel, Oaks on Collins so we just made ourselves comfy and complained to the management about a few things.
As we once again fly home, wish you all the best!
First thing we did was to spend most of Sunday at the Queen Victoria Market. The weather was poor, cold and showery so it was just the place (covered) to mooch around. The star find of the holiday, Penny finally got her red leather jacket waited for for so long at a really bargain price. I even got a new pair of moccasins to replace those 100 year old now my painting ones.
That evening off we went by tram to Toorak to have tea with Vicky and family. had a great get together. also there were my namesake cousin Richard and wife Juliet and two of his kids, Alice soon off to UK and tiny Amanda? Other cousin Sally was there too. We had great conversations as usual but was sad to hear that my uncle John back in sussex had died recently.Aunt Alice apparently was taking his passing badly. Unfortunate that we hadn't heard of this before although it happened a while ago. Later on Sally who doesn't drive insisted we share a taxi home, a bit more salubrious return than the tram.
Next day we travelled by train out to Lilydale the west end, To the foothills of the Dandenong ranges almost in the area of last year's fires. You wouldn't think so today! see the river in flood below Mavis and Pen on the bridge at Warburton.
Unusual sight in Melbourne. Note the park benches. we went just around the corner a bit and had a great afternoon tea.
then we went off to Mavis' new place for the early evening get together. Here's Mavis and Steve over the wine bottles (aperitifs only)
Soon it was home? again to our "Studio apartment" in town on the 15th floor.
Next day we went to the new development called "Docklands".
A tiny bit similar to the Auckland downtown Viaduct. Except that is the large shopping precinct
And the brand new stadium. where the grand final was played on Sunday. Don't ask why there is a cow in this tree.
looking back toward the city
and along the waterfront. The rucksacks didn't come back empty from that expedition, lots of sales on. We walked quite a distance that day, right back up to the centre. lovely views sometimes of the old buildings meshed in among the high rises.
Between Bourke St and Collins.
I think this was the day we started our routine of the Sauna before tea.
Wednesday we walked along over the Yarra river to the South bank (Big and new) development and along the riverside
then along to the gardens
and finally to the Melbourne art gallery where we met and had lunch with cousin Sally.
Then we wandered back past Flinders St Station, along the tiny back streets
(And a shop that seemed to sell only soup! Never got back to it though, next time!) then along back to home and the sauna.
Thursday we thought better go to the DFO centre tacked on to the Southern Cross Station just down the road. Penny was directed there by those shopping buffs back home. Penny was into power shopping by now so that didn't last long, so off we went to the other end of town. Note that I have only mentioned trams once so far despite the city being jam packed with them. The reason is that although you can get on free tourist ones, walking is only marginally slower, so that we were free to browse wherever we went so browse we did.
The Block arcade for example.
by late lunchtime we were at the Carlton gardens where we had our packed lunch. we bypassed the elaborate Exhibition building and this time went for the adjacent museum. It was quite good, especially for the youth. Had a rather unusual section on the mind. coffee and munchies there were the priciest yet. We oofed it all the way back to the other end of town to the supermarket to top up on our supplies before again hitting the Sauna before tea.
Friday up early to see Vicky and Douglas again.
They have a gorgeous glassy extension to the house which is lovely to be in.
They spend a lot of time here, though Douglas has his own study for writing and his watercolours and Vicky has her oils room
and a lovely garden too. Vicky has put a lot of time into that over the years.
First thing Douglas was determined that we went out somewhere. Being 96 we had via Sally tried to dissuade them from undertaking some cross town picnic thing that doug would quite easily organise. Anyway we went with Douglas to the Botanical gardens. driving with Doug is a bit of a challenge. they have an enormous old Jaguar which I have driven on previous occasions but today we went out in the smaller round town car which I notice had a number of small scrapes and bumps. Straight out of the driveway on to the main road I realised why, but we found our destination without too much adrenaline in our systems. Only Doug came as Vicky has had some recent challenges and finds hill walking difficult. nevertheless we walked at good pace for a half hour up hill and down dale Viz
I drove home, fortunately? Then it was time for morning tea
They are very formal, everything is an occasion. I am reminded by Penny who points out that he will do everything, like bringing the wine out not just by the bottle but on a tray.
At last after wide ranging discussions covering just about anything you can think of, it was time to go. not because we had a pressing engagement but because of their busy schedule (at 86 and 96!).
So after last goodbyes in the garden we left them at the gates of their lovely place. Note that every space on the walls inside has a painting on it
What a pair!
We trammed back to Flinders St then walked up the road because I'd forgotten where it was (we could have ridden the rest of the way) To the National Library. Hey I thought it would only have books but it was quite an entertaining place, obviously with it's excellent books but also art and sort of museum too. all in this lovely old building. we left a kicking out time back for the sauna.
Saturday with its cloudy chilly weather drove us to give everything a go. this must have been our longest time on the feet.
we went down a lot of little lanes, along to the Melbourne central mall type place, then to Victoria Market just to make sure little had escaped our notice, then straight on to Docklands again. We took a tortuous route by free tourist tram back to the town centre but walked from there home again and then hit the sauna.
Sunday, last day. Sunny at last! Took the 96 tram to St Kilda beach. Vicky told me when she first got off the boat from England in 46 she took the tram to St Kilda, walked to the beach and knew she'd arrived. It still has a very sort of English way about it. Lovely 1930's buildings abound. everyone was out enjoying the sun. we had our packed lunch on the parkland adjacent Luna Park
The shopping centre was packed
it had lots of eating places in line with the rest of melbourne which is stacked with them. Lots of niche shops and delicatessens.
There really was a beach of course but there was nobody in it except the lifeguards and boardsailing and board paddling trainees. Long beach though with real sand so I guess it will be pretty packed in summer.
It had a pier too!
From which you can see a lot of Melbourne
Finally we wound up at a nice wine bar with our olives and becks in the sun opposite the entertainment. Too soon it was time to hit the tram for the last time to our place. it was Happy hour when we arrived at the bar, so we watched the league grand final to see the Melbourne Storm beat the Paramatta Eels (where were you Paula?). over tea we reflected on our time and quaint visions, here's one
Horse police.
In darkness at 4.30am we rose on Monday to leave our tiny but well formed "studio"
on the 15th floor with it's quaint views of the old Fleet buildings below
Typical old melbourne frontages. and hit the street for the shuttle. All my over planning came to nought when we missed it by 30 seconds and had to wait 30 mins for the next. (No I didn't ask Penny whether she minded missing that 20 min sleep in) Even so It didn't matter because the queues moved fast at check in and with a few words about seating to the check in person showing my silver Skywards card we were in Business class again! Then came the news of an hour delay while the plane arrived late. but who cared. With our champagne and nice seats
