Blogs from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oceania - page 8

That's right everyone, we are leaving on another adventure... Rose and I are flying to Paris tonight and for the next 2 months will be travelling around France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. We will again endeavour to provide regular posts of where we are and what we are doing. I know all of you in Australia battling the cold and working will be envious, escape your reality for 5 minutes to read our posts.... read more

Surprisingly chilled out place. Coffee culture and good food. Diverse.... read more

It was a long day travelling from Canberra to Melbourne, where we starting on a rather empty coach bus and then a pretty crowded intercity train. Kevin appreciated the chance to stretch out and nap during the bus ride, considering we were up and out pretty early. Our very lovely hosts greeted us in Melbourne at the expansive Southern Cross train station. They kept us entertained and informed as we timed our arrival to perfectly hit the rush hour traffic all the way to our first house sitting assignment in Oz. They have a one acre plot in a suburban neighborhood that they have converted to a makeshift wildlife sanctuary! Ducks, geese, chickens, sheep, and cats would be our companions for the next ten days, and it would be our responsibility to make sure they were ... read more

Today I am indulging two of my passions. I have been watching Neighbours for 30 years so a visit to Melbourne would not be complete without a Ramsey Street tour. Reviews are mixed so I have high hopes and low expectations. The package includes a meet and greet with a star of the show. I am intrigued to see who they have coaxed out of bed on a bank holiday morning. After a shaky start (the bus driver reversing into a street sign) it’s actually a really good tour. The clientele are exclusively British (the Aussies don’t watch Neighbours) and super excited. The driver/guide spends the 18 mile drive to the suburbs engaging in Neighbours themed banter. We start at the studio. Because there’s no filming taking place, we are allowed onto the set, which is ... read more

A very early start today. We fly to Melbourne at 6 am, so need to get up at 3.30. To be honest, I’m too old to go without the requisite 8 hours sleep. But the flight is on time and and I get to watch The Greatest Showman (twice), so it could be worse. Entering Australia is a special challenge for the short sighted. The first instruction, on entering the E-gate, is to remove your glasses. The second is written on a screen 20 metres away. I can’t even see there’s an instruction let alone read what it says. Despite my unbeaten run of failing to use an E-gate with assistance, we’re in Melbourne by 9. We head to our hotel, hoping we can leave our bags there, but they are able to check us in ... read more