Australia

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After landing in Sydney we got on another plane and headed to Melbourne. Melbourne is known as the fashion city of Australia and as a “melting pot” because of its diversity. It even has a Chinatown. We check into the Vibe Hotel Savoy, which is conveniently located across the street from the Kings Cross train station. We proudly checked in stating “We’re here on our honeymoon.” The weather in Melbourne was a bit chilly, definitely jeans and a NorthFace type of weather.

After settling in, we began to explore our home for the next 4 days. We set on foot and headed to the Hangman’s Night Tour, to visit the Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail). This is where the legacy of Ned Kelly began. It is no longer a prison but a tourist spot filled with cells on both sides of this narrow building of three floors. There is no power in the building, and our tour was “after hours,” our group of nearly 20 was led by a single candle light. In the late 1800s, hangings where very popular and part of our tour included us visiting the hangman’s box. Hangings took place on the first landing where a trapdoor, known as the hangman's box, was cut into the floor, so that the body of a hanged convict would fall through the trapdoor and be visible in the main ground-floor corridor. It was a 90 minute tour and with Vicky’s odd obsession with prisons, we had a great first night in Melbourne.

Prior to out Hangman’s tour, we ate close by at a Vietnamese restaurant. It was at this point we realized that this city clearly was a melting pot. We enjoyed our walk home where we saw a Target and walked through Chinatown. We were excited to hear Australian accents but our bed time was calling.

Australian Word of the Day: Holidays=Vacation “Are you here on holiday?” “Yes, we are here on vacation, our honeymoon.”

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