Day 11 - Melbourne...........

So after a bit of a lay in this morning (I didn't get up until 7am!!!), this was my full day in Melbourne and the first day in my whole trip I was somewhere without a car.  And I was loving it!  Today was going to be all about relaxing, re-charging my batteries that were running out (it is hard being an international jet setter....) and just watching the world go by.

So I headed off in search of a nice little place for breakfast, something I don't normally do but it was almost 1030 by this point so I could class it as brunch!  As I wandered around the beautiful little arcades that are here, I found a buzzing little Italian Cafe with a rather nice looking waiter so I obviously say myself down.  These arcades are stunning, dating from the late 18 and 1900's they are ornate and house a real eclectic mix of shops and cafes.  So, as I sat and enjoyed my coffee and fruit toast I watched the locals go about their business and my fellow tourists clicking away with their cameras.  Then it was down to the Southbank on the other side of the Yarra river, that has shops, bars and restaurants that give a fantastic view of the city skyline.  It is also home to a lot of the offices and where the workers all come out for lunch and enjoy the view, and the sunshine that had made a welcome return today!  So I meandered up and down checking out places as possible dinner venues, and also trying to find a certain little Greek Restaurant that had been here last time and did the most amazing food!  This area had been developed and changed a lot since then, and although I knew this is where it used to be, it wasn't any more.  Still what had replaced it was cosmopolitan blend of restaurants and bars, all spilling out onto the river front.

After my little wander I decided it was time to see the city from another angle so I went to the Eureka Tower Sky Deck, a panoramic viewing platform on the 88th floor of one of Melbournes sky scrapers.  You take 38 seconds to shoot up the 88 floors in the lift, ears popping at least twice, and at the top the view is spectacular.  Makes you realise how big this little city is!  You  can see right over to the port of Melbourne where the Spirit of Tasmania was ready to sail, and all the way out to the suburbs and the mountains beyond.  Brilliant.  They also have an added attraction up there called The Edge.  It is basically a re-enforced glass box that sticks out from the side of the building, with a glass floor too, so that you can stand and look at the world below.  And after all the other things I have done on this adventure, this was a breeze!  I managed to wangle mu 5 minute stint on my own, and after donning some very stupid little booties to cover my shoes, in the box I went.  The glass is frosted to start and then they start playing some spooky sounding music, and then the box begins to move out from the side of the building!  This was a bit of a shock as I thought it was actually built into the side of the building, but it moves out mechanically, grinding and juddering (all part of the experience I am sure) and then the frosting magically disappear and you are floating 88 floors up !!  Bloody great it was too! I laid on the the floor on my stomach looking down and around!  It was quite windy too so it mas moving a little but that all added to the experience!  They then take your picture that you can buy (just like any self respecting white knuckle ride!) and the box moves back in!  Timed it just right as when I cam out there were hoards of cackling Japanese all waiting to get in!  So i got my picture and took the lift back down to terra firma!  You can also see the sunset from there so I made the decision to come back later and do that.

It was now about 1.30 so I wandered around some more, grabbed a quick sandwich and a glass of vino for lunch, and sat on the river front reading my book in the glorious sunshine for an hour or so.  Then I spotted a little bar that was actually in the middle of the river, built round one of the bridge supports so that I where I headed.  And that is where I stayed for the next 4 and a half hours!!  It was a great funky little place, buzzing with great music and locals and sitting on an old crate propped up against the wooden bar that went all the way round the edge, it was the perfect way to relax, read and drink!!  A few beers went down well, and it was great to see all the boats go past and so many people tried to get seats but all of us that were there were there for the duration!  I got chatting to a lovely young couple, she was from Gold Coast and was an artist and he was from NZ and an actor.  More characters to add to my list of people I have met this trip!  We chatted for a while and I got a bit peckish (alcohol nibbles) ad ordered one of there burgers for a little snack.  Christ, it was bigger than my head and very tasty!

At about 6.30 I decided it was time  to move on and I bid my farewells and headed to the Eureka Tower again to watch the sun set on this great day.

I was obviously a bit busier up there but I found a spot and just sat and admired the view as the sun was moving down, changing the colours of the skyline and the buildings.  Then a girl asked if anyone was sitting in the chair next to me and when I said no she sat down.  After a while we got chatting and her name was Tess and she was from just outside Amsterdam.  She was also travelling alone, for a month, but she told me she was struggling a bit with being on her own.  So needless to say we sat chatting for ages and watched the sun finally set over this lovely city.  It was great from up there.  After the main event was over and our cameras could no longer capture the wonder of the skyline, I asked her if she would like to go for a stroll and grab a coffee, so we wandered down the riverfront and to Federation Square where we sat and  chatted some more.  By this time it was getting on for 10pm and I had to catch the train at 8, meaning I had an early start and hadn't packed or anything.  So we said goodbye, swapped emails and I told her to just go and enjoy, she was doing just fine!

I took the 20 min stroll back to my apartment, drinking in the sights and sounds of my last few hours in Melbourne and got back to my pad, packed up a bit and then fell into bed with another big grin on my face.  I will definitely be back here, so who wants to come.........????!!!!!