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We got up early and packed up checking there were no more spiders and headed on to Melbourne. We arrived and I directed Rachel through the streets of Melbourne perfectly until we came to the campsite. She may tell the story differently saying that I didn't have a clue where I was going and we just luckily stumbled on a sign saying camp site 2 km's away, but its all lie's I knew exactly where I was going from the start. We checked in and pitched up, checking once again that there were no spiders. We then went for a wonder around the campsite and I went in the games room, they had a motion sensor game which you could play for free. I had a go at a ball game swinging my arms and legs all over the place, thinking the room was empty. When I had finished I turned round to see a women and her son watching me flap around like a mad man. I quickly left and found Rachel again.
We then headed into the city centre on the tram, after checking out a couple of shops we walked past a good looking cathedral. We popped in for a look and they had a service going on with a choir. So we stayed for the service which was really nice as the choir sang 'Oh Holy Night' which was very Christmasy.
We then went for a wander around the town and headed to the Botanical Gardens. On the way we saw many statues and monuments that looked nice, but we weren't sure what they were. We then came to the National War Memorial Monument which was very impressive and took a few pic's there. We then headed for a walk in the Gardens, and soon realised we were on a trail… there was loads of Christmas baubles scattered around attached to the info boards with clues on. We soon realised it was a trail so decided to follow it… we made it to the last one hung on a Christmas tree and it said 'Find X to decorate me'. We couldn't figure this one out so started to head off but then spotted some sparkly things under a big tree. We think that was the 'X' and that it was the treasure you had to use to decorate the Christmas tree. We decided then to head off, but realised we'd got a tad lost following the trail oops. We finally found our way back and headed for the SkyDeck, which is the Southern Hemisphere's highest viewing platform.
We headed up in the lift at an incredible speed of…. Well I can't remember the speed but it sounded impressive when the speaker in the lift told us about it. We came out on the top 80 something floor and were met by a heard of screaming school kids, we thought we didn't pay for that but assumed unfortunately it was included in the cost. We walked round the tower and had a look at a 360-degree view of Melbourne, which was impressive. There was then the outside deck where you got to see a thing they call the edge. It's a square chamber which has walls and floor and ceiling you can't see through, it then extends out the side of the SkyDeck, then the ceiling, walls and floor turn see through and you are standing on a glass floor with a massive drop underneath. Unfortunately this was extra and our budget didn't stretch that far, oh dear what a shame. After exploring the Deck and waiting for sunset with some nacho's and pushing countless kids out of the way we finally headed back down the lift.
We then walked round the building once, not because we were lost, because we wanted to see the outside from all directions, honest. We then headed to the riverside and walked along it for a bit before crossing the mistletoe kissing bridge (unfortunately we only realised it was called this the following day). We walked through the town for a bit then jump on the tram back to the campsite. It was a half hour walk from the tram stop to the campsite and by this point it was around 11 ish so we decided to get a take away pizza, just in time before the pizza place closed. Unfortunately I didn't realise they were putting pineapple on it until it was too late so Rachel was very happy getting my helping of Pineapple as well. We walked back eating tasty pizza and then climbed into bed.
On Friday 16th we arose and lazily got ready then headed back into town on the bus and tram. We popped into the tourist info centre to get some info on the great ocean road then headed down to the Neighbours centre for a guided tour. After waiting around for a bit the tour guide finally arrived grumbling about her phone being cut off and how she was having a terrible week. We still jumped on the bus all smiling, as everyone on the tour must have been having a good week unlike her. We headed off towards Pine Oaks, which is the real name of Ramsey Street while watching Neighbours on the bus's TV and being told facts about Neighbours and information about the tour guide's terrible week. We finally reached the street and leapt out with Ramsey street signs for everyone to take photos, which was fun, although the real street looks a lot smaller then it does on TV. We then all headed back to the bus……. which had the tour guide at the wheel with the key in the ignition but it wasn't making any noise……. Oh dear the tour guide's week got worse as the bus wasn't starting. We left her sorting it out while we had a picnic in Ramsey Street then headed to the local shop to treat ourselves to an ice cream. After about half an hour a replacement bus showed up and we were off again, this time with aircon and a TV that didn't flicker.
We headed to the studios to see the garage, school, grease monkeys, bus stop, etc etc. Then on to drive past the real Erinsborough High, unfortunately we were told we weren't allowed in as it would scare the kids, I thought it was a bit harsh as the other people on the tour weren't that ugly. We then headed to the Melbourne beach and waited for one of the actors to arrive. It was 'Sky', who thankfully we both recognised otherwise it may have been a bit embarrassing. We got photo's with her and got autographs, I got a heart which made Rachel jealous but by the time she realised sky had already left so thankfully there wasn't any fights. We then jumped back on the bus and headed back towards where we got picked up. We then jumped on the free circle line tramline and headed round the city before jumping off at the harbour area. We had a potter around then found a outlet shopping centre so split and did some Christmas shopping for one another.
We then headed back and jumped on the tram again and then pottered round the east side of town seeing another Cathedral, Town Hall, China town and Myers Christmas shop window. The Window was impressive consisting of around a ten windows all with different displays in. People were queuing to walk past them all. Made me feel very Christmasy and reminded me a bit of London. We then jumped back on the Tram and headed back to the campsite to have a quick dinner and play on the computer games in the games room for a bit before being chucked out at closing time. We then watched another episode of Faulty Towers before bed.
- comments
Mum I take it all back about you (Graeme) being a fraud going to Ramsay Street when you had probably never seen an episode in your life.... Obviously you are a secret Neighbours watcher! lol