Melbourne!

When you don't get away very much you can sure pack a lot into a couple of days. Brett and I flew down to Melbourne on Monday morning, after dropping the kids at my parent's place. Our flight was slightly delayed due to a massive problem with the Virgin Blue check in system that more or less shut down their flights for 2 days. We weren't flying with them, but you can imagine how that all affected other flights. Anyway, we were only half an hour later than planned into Melbourne, then we got the shuttle to our hotel and checked in. Did I mention how BLOODY FREEZING it was!? We had left 27 degrees and landed in 11 degrees, with wind and rain. Well, that's Melbourne for you. So after checking in we walked to the main shopping area (our hotel was really central) and bought a jumper each, haha. Then that night we caught the tram to Brunswick East and had dinner with my sister at Hellenic Republic, which is owned by George, the chef from Master Chef (which we don't actually watch, but the food was delicious!!)

The next day we were up at dawn, as per usual, being physically unable to sleep in past 7 am anymore, but it was good to make the most of the day. Our hotel room included buffet breakfast, woohoo, so after having a hearty meal we set off for the day. First to the old Melbourne Gaol, famous as the place where Ned Kelly was hanged. Also the place where one of Brett's ancestor's (cousin, 4 times removed) was hanged.... how special. (This was back in 1863). Next we strolled over to the Queen Victoria Markets, which are so cool. It's spread out over a huge area, some stalls are your typical market type tourist stuff, but they have a big undercover area that is full of food shops, like deli's, bakeries, cheese shops, butcheries etc etc. We stopped there for a cuppa before catching the free tram that does a loop of the city down to the new docklands development, where there are lots of factory outlet shops. Later in the day we walked down to Federation Square and had a look around and then went to the Abba Exhibition there, which was actually a lot of fun and really well set out. That night we ate in a tiny Japanese restaurant that was tucked at the end of a cobblestoned alley way and looked like it was originally a Swiss place, due to the copious amounts of pine panelling all over the walls.

Wednesday was our last day and we started with a visit to the Melbourne Museum to se the Titanic exhibition. It was excellent, so well done, and really, really moving. All those artifacts that they have brought up from the wreck, some very personal effects, like wallets and clothes. Before we headed back to the airport we went back into the city to explore the little alleyways a bit more and have some lunch. Our flight left at 5pm, and we were back at mum and dad's by 7.30pm. The kids were already in their PJ's, so we drove home with them sound asleep in the car and got in at about 9.30pm.