Melbourne ,Australia

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Once more we are out in the South Pacific, cruising up (toward the equator) from Melbourne to Sidney, Australia. We toured Melbourne yesterday and stopped by their WW2 Memorial, an impressive marble edifice with a large military parade. It seems it was the Aussie Memorial Day, which is Feb. 13 (nobody seems to know why). Then back to the ship for a hurried lunch, after which we were bussed to the local polo grounds at Werribee Park for the England-Australia match. All we knew about polo was what we saw in Pretty Woman, so this was a new experience indeed. But it matched the image we had, down to the “stomping of the divots” between chukkas (quarters, or fifths, or something like that). We were instructed to wear “casual white” for the occasion, but the Aussies were not so well instructed so we really stood out. (Maybe that was the whole idea anyway.) The game was exciting, with England ahead at one point, but the home team won 9-8 in the end. The horses were beautiful and the players expert, so there was some impressive horsemanship. Late in the afternoon we walked over to an old mansion on the park grounds, Werribee Mansion, a bit like Biltmore House except older and more English. It was built by a wealthy family in late 1800s, then owned by a Catholic seminary, and finally sold to the state park system and fully restored. We were royally entertained with drinks and canapés even though it was Sunday and after hours for the staff. It was a beautiful day, perfect weather and temperature about 80 degrees. We are learning more and more about how Crystal Serenity treats its world cruisers - we are a special group of about 200 and we get many more perks than the rest of the passengers - like the polo game and other excursions, and parties aboard ship. We are meeting a lot of people who have been on the world cruise multiple times, and now we understand why. Who wouldn’t love all this pampering??

Tomorrow we dock at Sydney for 3 busy days, with many passengers getting off and new ones coming on board. We’ll lose 4 of our tablemates who have become good friends, but we’re looking forward to meeting more.

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Photos

The England-Aussie Polo Game
Horses and players on the field during the game. Spectors sat in stands along the side, and (like us) at tables under white umbrelas. Not a large crowd, but enthusiastic!

The Polo Game
The horses were beautiful. Each side had 4 horses and players on the field during the game. Each rider used up to 4 horses in the game, as the fast pace tired them quickly. Two fell, but nobody was seriously injured.

The Polo Game
Dick and Mary stomping the divits. We all went out on the field to try to fill in holes and gashes in the turf made by the ponies in the first half of the game.

Parade at WW2 Memorial
This was only a small portion of the several military units parading about the grounds.

Refreshments at Werribee Mansion
After the polo game we were royally entertained with delicious goodies at the old mansion nearby.

The Werribee Mansion Garden
This is said to be the only formal English garden in the area. The grounds were beautiful, with wide green lawns and sculpture, some of it quite modern. We talked to one of the artists whose "sculpture" was a huge pink jelly bean which he said (tongue in cheek I hope) that it represented "the meaning of life"!

Werribee Mansion
Mary standing at left center. If you want a better picture of this impressive old residence, go to www.melbourne.visitorsbureau.com.au/attractions.html
and click on "Mansion at Werribee Park.