It being winter, people are succeptible to illness and I came down with a pretty heavy cold [or man flu!]. I spent two full days in the house feeling pretty sorry for myself! Saturday I met up with Lesley and Tracy. We had planned to go ice skating at the Winter Wonderland in the Docklands. Alas, when we got there all the sessions had sold out. We had also planned to visit a navy vessel stationed in the docklands but it had already set sail! All in all, pretty disappointing. After a wander around the shops I accompanied the girls to the vigil Mass in the city centre - my first mass in quite a while! After that we had curries for dinner then headed home.
Sunday was a day I’d been looking forward to - an AFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). It was Richmond versus Collingwood, 2 of the 9 Melbourne teams in the 16 team AFL. At start of play Collingwood were 2nd so we (me and Lesley) thought if we support them we’ll get to celebrate more! However, they seemed to pick this game to play their worst football of the season! Our seats were right behind the goals (four vertical poles, no bar, no net) which wouldve been great if it wasn’t pishing it down with rain. The Tigers (Richmond) completely blew the Magpies (Collingwood) away during the first two quarters. It was strange to be at a sports game where the two teams’ supporters sit with each other and there seems to be no conflict in the stands - very different to back home. Collingwood had a support squad near our seats with huge black and white pom poms that they waved when the magpies scored - didn’t happen very often! Final score was 92-45 to Richmond. On the train ride home I had the misfortune of sitting next to a rather strange magpies fan who seemed to blame the weather for Collingwood losing - a poor excuse. He seemed to want to discuss the game with everyone around him who were all laughing at him inside I’m sure! It was a relief to us all when he got off the train. One lady said “Could you imagine sitting next to him at the game?”. That would’ve been torture!
Monday I finally started sightseeing, as I entered my third week in Melbourne. Another visit to the Docklands to take pictures before heading to Victoria market which, unbeknown to me, was closed Mondays and Wednesdays - grrr! I headed into the city centre, wandered around the shops then headed back down towards the river and the MCG to take more pictures. I met up with Lesley and some of her workmates later on. We were planing on seeing a movie but when we got there the film was sold out so we headed to the Prince of Wales in St. Kilda where we spent a few hours before I headed home - 20 mins on tram and 45 mins on train!!
On Tuesday I visited more sights - I started off with the Victoria Market. It’s a pretty big place although most of the stalls seem to be selling the same kinda stuff. There were countless denim stalls, shoe stalls, aussie souvenir stalls that just seemed to repeat themselves. I bought myself a pair of thongs (flip flops) for wearing in warmer climes - tho I did wear them out the next day! From there I went to the Old Melbourne Gaol where the notorious Ned Kelly was executed. It was quite interesting to see the workings of the old gaol - including the noose! After the goal I went shopping, not buying much then visited the aquarium (not really worth it) and the Rialto Towers. After getting the spectacular views from Tokyo Tower and the Osaka Umeda Sky building in Japan, I couldn’t not visit the Melbourne Observation Deck. I got there just as the sun was setting, allowing me to see the city gradually light up.
I couldn’t go to Melbourne and not visit Ramsay Street so I booked myself on the Neighbours tour on Wednesday. Heading out from the city we stopped off at “Erinsborough High”, drove past the studios and then stopped at Pin Oak Court - setting of Ramsay Street! It really is a tiny street with camera tricks used to make it seem bigger.
On Thursday I got up at 5:30am as I was heading to the Great Ocean Road. The two day tour took us along the entire stretch. Starting of at Logan’s beach - home of a whale nursery - we headed through Warrnambool, Towert Hill (home of koalas, kangaroos and emus) then heading to the Great Ocean Road stopping at the Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, The Grotto, London Bridge and then the 12 Apostles - all sites of erosion into the limestone rock offering beautiful views. We didnt get a particularly good sunset and I had given up waiting on the penguins to come ashore! From there it was to Port Campbell, our stop for the night, where we enjoyed a tasty barbecue. After dinner we sat around talking and drinking before heading to the pub and back with a carry out! Up at 7 the next day we headed out at just after 8am. We visited Loch Ard Gorge before back to the 12 Apostles for a $60 (24GBP) helicopter ride along the coast line! From there we made our way along the great ocean road, taking a detour to maits rest rainforest then off to Apollo Bay for lunch. After leaving Apollo Bay we were on the original stretch of the road as we headed for Bells beach (setting for film Point Break) after passing the “Round the Twist” lighthouse!! After watching the surfers at Bells beach, and kangaroos playing golf, we made for Torquay and a bit of shopping at Surf City before back to the city. A thoroughly enjoyable trip, my highlight so far of Oz.