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Published: August 9th 2007
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Top of the Tower
Looking out on Melbourne Firstly, please let me apologise for any forthcoming grammatical errors but I am trying to listen to Norwich v Ipswich commentary courtesy of Radio Norfolk, and come up with a mildly interesting article at the same time - two things at once is pushing it....
So, Melbourne - not just the home of Melbourne Cricket Ground, Neighbours and Melbourne Bitter. Oh no, it is also home to Telstra Dome, Channel Seven and Victoria Bitter. These alone are more than enough reasons why anyone enjoys Melbourne. For those who are not already convinced there is also great restaurants, pubs, shopping and even free tourist trams to ferry you around.
There are of course, certain similarities between Melbourne and Sydney. They are both full of Australians, they also both have Telstra Domes which has confused me no end. There is the easy access to beaches afforded by both cities - St Kilda for Melbourne and Manly/Bondi from Sydney. However, I think that is probably where the similarities end. Melbourne seems to have a historical feel to it, which is a sensation probably heightened by the never ending stream of trams - some of which are apparently 'W Class' and introduced in
View from Above
Melbourne, the MCG, Rod Laver Arena and the River Yarra 1936. Please note I haven't turned into a 'tramspotter' but they tell you bits of info about the network when you are on board. Quite interesting!
We managed to arrive safely and navigate our way from the freeway to dropping the car off at the rental office and it was back to being on foot. Strangely my feet were instantly moved by a mysterious force know only to man as 'Whirlwind Clare'. One minute we were unpacking, the next we find ourselves in the downtown office of Neighbours Tours, booking ourselves a trip to Ramsay Street for the very next afternoon. Little did we know how good this trip would turn out to be..! We got ourselves down to the office by 1:45pm the next afternoon and were led to a 20-odd seater bus decked out in full Neighbours regalia, both outside and in. Old episodes played as we wound through Melbourne traffic to a suburb called Blackburn, or Erinsborough as it will probably be more commonly known back at home. I think it was Mark and Annalise's wedding that we were treated to on the way there.
After a short stop at Erinsborough High we proceeded to
Melbourne at sunset
Taken from our bedroom window. the real life Ramsay Street, Pin Oak Court. Once cleared by the security guard, we were allowed to check it out for ourselves and take photo's of all the famous, instantly recongnisable houses. It was certainly beyond strange - I haven't watched Neighbours since I was about thirteen and had forgotten how much I used to follow it. There infront of us was the Bishop house, next door it was Jim and Helen's old place and in turn the next along was formerly Des and Daphne's then Pam and Doug Willis and then the Kennedy family moved in. We were very surprised at how small the street was - it looks so much bigger on television which we learned was a perception enhanced by clever camera trickery and slick angles.
After several minutes trying to comprehend we were standing in the middle of the famous street, we were on the bus heading for the studios and being shown the bus stop that is used - in a flash, there was a shout from the front of the bus that someone was chasing us - we all turn around and who would that be thats jumping in the door...? It's
only Dr Karl!! It was mad. Karl Kennedy, standing there right infront of us. He signed postcards for everyone and had his picture with us both. What a nice, genuine fella he was too. Sometimes you get the impression they're all false and would rather be in bed that having photos etc, but not Dr Karl. Nice as could be. It was such a fun day, and ultimately the cheesiest day it could have been, with Scott and Charlene's wedding showing on the way back downtown!
The shops have taken a bit of a pounding as well while we have been here, it has rained yesterday - their first day of rain in months. Nice to meet with Emily and Simon, two of Clare's old housemates, for dinner last night too. Today has been better weather wise and we have been to the top of Rialto Tower which is the highest office building in the Southern Hemisphere and we got great views from the observation deck.
Our time in Australia has been brilliant, and I wish we had longer - tomorrow we leave for New Zealand's slightly cooler climate. So it's both with sadness (especially now it's 1-1
Outside MCG
'We'll be the first English to come out without losing for a while' in the footy - come on Norwich!) and excitement we move onto a country new to us both - and the part of the trip we have absolutely no plan or itinerary for. We know we have three days in Christchurch to begin with, then the country is ours to roam. I really have no idea what to expect, which is great!
Hope everyone is going well, and that weather you've been telling us about hasn't subsided just yet - save some for us!!
Take care, Love Max (and Clare)
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Andrew (NnC)
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It sounds fantastic guys, I'm well jealous! Karl Kennedy = Legend but not as much as Lou Carpenter!!! keep the blogs coming it makes good reading... And 1-1 was not good