Blogs from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oceania - page 13

We read that a couple of days ago four men were arrested in Sydney for plotting to blow up planes with meat mincers. I thought the worst a meat mincer could do was chew your hand off, but the intensity of the security at Melbourne airport suggests otherwise. Issy bought a fancy new camera about a month ago, and I'm keen to get the GST back via the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). The man at the camera shop even sent me the link to an app so I could generate a code in advance. He told me that that way we could join the express lane and get our refund really quickly. Whilst the express queue has no people in it other than us, there's only one attendant serving it, and she has her hands full ... read more

Day minus 1. No need to panic as the last moments approach because Lee is doing that for me. I think I'm pretty right as far as organisational details go. That means I'm either OK or in a state of denial but judging by financial outgoings lately I must be well and truly prepared. Let's get straight down to it. It's Quiz time. Who am I walking with? I will be walking in 4 countries. Name them (and I don't mean rename them! The names they have already suit me just fine.) Good.... read more

One of my Mothers' day presents this year was High Tea at Melbourne's awesomely historic Windsor Hotel. Since 1883, the Windsor has served over two million afternoon teas. The hotel is located in Spring Street, across the road from Victoria's Parliament House and the Old Treasury Building. (Side note: if you ever get the opportunity, pop in to the Old Treasury Building. The displays tell the story about Melbourne's journey from the first white settlement, in 1836 through Victoria's gold rush of the 1850s and on to becoming reportedly the richest city in the world in the late 1800s. They best things about the Old Treasury Building? Firstly, it is totally free to visit, and secondly, being able to walk on floor made up of gold ingots (under perspex) with a ticker tape style display announcing ... read more

13th March Melbourne It is always difficult visiting these cities on the other side of the world and deciding how to spend the time effectively and efficiently. Today was going to be no exception and then coupled with meeting friends make it doubly difficult. We berthed at Port Philip a half hour shuttle ride into town. This was a Bank Holiday in Melbourne, Labour Day and there was also a festival with floats and fancy dress everywhere. We arrived in the centre to be dropped off at the Eureka Skydeck, one of the tallest residential buildings and you can take the lift from ground level to Level 88 in just 40 seconds. The Skydeck gives a 360'degree view of the city. As we arrived on the Southgate side on the river Yarra, there were flocks of ... read more

Wednesday March 22, 2017 A travel day from Melbourne to Sydney and a memorable day for a probably never returning coincidence: Philip Ignacio, our grandson, as indicated yesterday, has his birthday on the 21st and I mine on the 22nd. Due to time differences we celebrated our birthdays on the same day. Difficult to explain to our granddaughters, who already have difficulties understanding that they are having breakfast wihile we here down under, are having dinner or about to go to bed. our flight was supposed to leave on 15.30, but only did on 17.45; a long time at the airport. Since we had to check out of the hotel at 11.00, we took the opportunity to revisit the shopping area of Melbourne, taking the tram again and walking back to the hotel. Arriving at Sydney, ... read more