Day 10 - Bye Bye Tassie, Hello Melbourne.....

So today it was time to say goodbye to a wonderful Tasmania.  It had been a whistle stop tour, just a couple of highlights, but made me think that maybe I should come back for more.......

But before then I had a couple of days in Melbourne to look forward to.  Got a lift to the airport early and it was on the plane for the hour flight.  All very civilised and before I knew it we were decending into the airport.

I hopped onto the hotel shuttle and got a great guided tour of the city I remember with great fondness, as mine was the last stop.  I had chosen City Tempo Apartments and boy, what a great choice!!  My little apartment was fabulous, modern, funky and so clean!  I had a balcony and a city view too.  And a kitchenette complete with mini dishwasher in a drawer!!  I could live here a while!

So after unpacking a few bits and getting my bearings I headed off for the Queen Victoria Market which happened to be at the top of my road.  It was 1.30 by this time and the market shuts at 2pm so I had enough time to check out the array of stalls and get myself some cheap fruit too.  After buying a couple of little bits of tat too.......



Then it was time to walk down towards the Yarra River that flows through the city.  My apartment was about a 15min walk but the weather had definately improved since Tas so it was a wonderful stroll in the sunshine.  As I was looking at my map a gentleman asked if I needed any help and I just checked I was headed in the right direction, which I was, and he was going that way too so we walked and chatted for a bit, then he went into his office.

As I headed down towards the river I was remembering why I had loved it here so much.  Even though it is a big city with all the glass and highrise, it has a real chilled out feel.  From the beautiful lanes with ornate little arcades to museums and galleries, coffee shops and resturants, a new harbour complex and the lovely Southbank River area it really has it all  (I sound like I am writing for Lonely Planet.......Mmmmmm now there is an idea........)

I wandered around taking in the sights and sounds, over the river to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Centre where they had the tennis a few weeks ago.  Then through Fitzroy Gardens with kts old cottages dating back from 1860 ish.  I hopped on one of the old trams that run a circle around the city to give my feet a rest (and its free) and got another perspective of it.

I just enjoyed wandering, stopping every now and then to people watch, have a drink and chill.  Until I decided to stop in a traditional British pub.  It was lovely but at $7.50 a pint it was more like Britain than I was expecting!  Alcohol is so expensive everywhere now which is a bit if a bugger!!   I had decided I was going to have Chinese for my tea so I headed for China Town and settled on a little place that was looking popular with the locals and I plumped for a sizzling prawn dish which was lush and was less than the pint I had bought earlier!!

As sun began to go down I milled around Federation Square where they had an open air cinema set up.  They werent showing mainstream films, just documentaries in conjunction with the Food Festival going on.  So, after watching the sky turn all colours of the rainbow, I took a slow 25 min walk back to my appartment.  Stopping on route to watch 2 guys performing in the street.  One bad a didge and the other was beat boxing.  It was bloody amazing!  Videoed them for over 5 mins, it really was a sight. And what made it even more unreal was that they were both Japanese!!!!  And then another busker loomed into view as I turned another corner.  A man (at least I think it was a man) playing the bagpipes.  Dressed as a Penguin.  I kid you not, it was hysterical!

And then I arrived 'home' and collapsed into bed, feet aching but with s big smile on my face, looking forward to my full day tomorrow.......more of the same please!!