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I arrived safely in Melbourne and after a few days of relaxing and sorting myself out, using and abusing the free internet and washing machine, I finally get back out of the routine of getting up late and pottering around. Cath and Mark have got loads on their plate at the moment what with the bush fires out here, they have a 60 acre farm (tree plantation) that has been in the high risk zone for the last few days. Thankfully at the moment it looks to have be spared but the wind keeps changing direction and it has been a roller coaster ride for them over the past few days and sadly it's not over yet. Cath's Mum is also staying here as her house is in the Yarra Valley which is at risk , the back burning that they are doing in the area has made it unbearable for her with all of the smoke. I have learnt loads about fire's and how to protect your home, the fact that people living in the bush out here all have fire plans and fire fighting equipment, it is another world! and I have to say they are all a lot braver than me I would be fleeing from my house at the first idea of fire heading anywhere near me, although sadly this time the weather conditions have meant that people just haven't realised it's been heading in their direction until it has been too late! The news coverage is so sad! and I can't believe this is all happening so close to here! Despite all of this going on I have been looked after so well, thanks a million Mark and Cath, and I don't think I even realised it was Wednesday before i headed into Melbourne City centre.
Melbourne City then, many precincts that all bring with them something different from beach to Central Business District, china town to docklands and Greek Quarters to Olympic parks.. Cath and I headed out to St Kilda, which actually really reminded me of Brighton, down on the beach a very chic district with boutique clothes shops, bars, cafes and restaurants and the most amazing cake shops I have ever seen (I actually took a photo!!), you have to ignore the Luna park entrance which was a little out of character and a bit of an eye soar for the area!! but all is all a very pleasant area I could have spent days just wandering. On the way back I'm introduced to a sort of wine I have never drunk before (not possible I hear you cry!), sparkling red not massively popular or available in England I don't think but I'll track it down somewhere when I'm back as it was most enjoyable and went very well with my home made spaghetti bolognese.
The next day, I actually head out into Melbourne city on my own and find that Southbank (along the Yarra River) is actually very like London. I pass a good few hours reading, people watching (one of my favourite hobbies) and enjoying a spot of lunch before heading out on the Yarra river cruise. The captain of the boat was no-where near as entertaining as the guy in Perth, but never the less I still learnt some interesting facts. The tourist bus route which is free! took me through the main areas of the city with a nice recorded commentary so pleased that I now have my bearings I head home to experience my first Australian family BBQ.
So Interesting facts to share with you guys. Melbourne is:
- in it's 12th year of drought, clearly not a helpful factor for the bush fires and the botanical gardens are no-where near as spectacular as the lonely planet would have you believe.
- home to the largest population of Greeks in the world, obviously outside of Athens!
- home to the 3rd largest observation wheel, behind our "eye" in London and Singapore's.
- lucky to have very large roads in it's CBD and this is all thanks to the 1st town planner who decided that horse drawn carts with up to 6 horses should be able to do a 3 point turn in the road.
So, after replacing all of my chargers, all died a death in the crash and it turns out are very expensive to buy separately, I ascend at 9m per second in the lift of the Eureka towers for views over the city on their observation deck. Incidentally at 300m tall it claims to be the tallest residential block in the world and has gold platted windows at the top. It's most famous for it's edge, which is basically a section that extends out from the building totally made of glass that you stand in 285m above the cars, buildings and people below trying to smile for your photo to be taken. I thought I would be really scared but actually it didn't seem that high and although very windy on the normal observation deck the edge felt very secure so I had a good old look around, even below me and wasn't even phased by the shaking and creaking noises they were pumping through the sound system.
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