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Published: November 20th 2013
So up early, and as we had wifi in Brisbane, I called our daughters this morning (Monday evening their time) as spookily they both had big interviews on (their) Tuesday. So a quick good luck. Then in a taxi and off to the airport for our flight to Melbourne. Another smooth check in and this time we were back flying with Virgin Australia so they have recovered a bit from our Sydney experience,
Arrived in Melbourne about 2.30 and we had decided to use the Sky bus to get to our hotel. Again, very simple to use - the bus was right outside the terminal and leaves every 10 minutes to Southern Cross station. It only took 20minutes although it's a bit nerve racking as it travels along a pretty busy highway and it was driven quite quickly. Trouble is it's a bendy bus and we were in the back so the movement up and down and side to side was slightly worrying! Once you get to the main bus station (which has to be said is a bit of a dismal entry to melbourne), you are then transferred to hotel transfer buses so it really is a door to
door service. On our journey we saw yet another Ferris wheel. I didn't know that Melbourne had one? Investigation later found that it's had one since 2008. But it closed 40 days after it opened!!! Apparently they have been repairing it since! Due to open in a few weeks. Not sure I'd want to be first on it.
So we arrived at the Langham hotel. It's a beautiful hotel, very grand in an English way and very different to the style we have been staying in till now which have been very contemporary. And we had a view of the river which I wasn't expecting. After UNPACKING we headed out for a quick walk around the area and looking for a late lunch. The hotel is on the southbank and is close to the centre of the city. An ideal spot to explore from. But that's tomorrow's job because tonight is dinner on the Melbourne Tramcar. This is a converted old tramcar which travels through the city while they serve you a 5 course dinner.
You meet the tram at a tram stop which was around a 15 minute stroll from the hotel. Quite funny when you get
there and there's loads of people equally dressed up hanging around a tram stop. They tell you to get their 15 min before your 8.35 slot and I probably only realised when I got there that they have to fit in amongst the normal tram timetable! Actually when they turned up there were actually 3 trams with each one seating about 36 people. The setting was beautiful. Victorian effect and blackened windows so although you could see out people couldn't see in.
The food was surprisingly good, drink was plentiful (and included in the price) and staff were friendly. It was obviously quite cosy and so we ended up having a bit of banter with the party next to us, but we still felt that we had had a cosy dinner for two. It was a really special evening and would definitely recommend for anyone spending time in Melbourne. I also enjoyed the chance to dress up for dinner which I haven't done since Sydney.
Stroll back to the hotel around 11.30 and a decision to have a lie in tomorrow. Especially when the weather card provided as part of the turn down service says RAIN!
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tom
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to the author and her sidekick
Just received details to get your blog. fascinated by the details you go into. You must be spending all your spare time putting it together.At the speed I type it would take me all day to put a blog like yours together.You seem to be having a great time but very active. Look after yourselves and enjoy every experience. Love t&j