Melbourne 1

We checked out at 1000 with the intention of taking a slow drive up the peninsula to Melbourne, stopping wherever we found something of interest.  (Not too long a drive anyway- 75 mins if we didn't stop).  Actually there was very little of interest to stop for - just a couple of views all the way to Melbourne if your eyesight/imagination were good enough.

The seaside town of St Kilda is about 6km south of Melbourne and we'd originally thought of staying a night there as they also have a "penguin parade" but not as organised as Phillip Island.  

We wandered around the botanical gardens where I waited ages hoping the White Fronted Cormorant would fly off.

We walked down to the waterfront, but it was just a giant waterpark - so glad we didn't stay here afterall.

Our car was due back 1200 but when we'd collected it in Adelaide the lady said we'd paid for the whole day so as long as it was returned before 0900 the following day, it would be fine.  I phoned to check with Hertz Melbourne and they confirmed.   Then I phoned the Travelodge to make sure we could drop our cases before check-in time and then take the car back - no problem.  I also asked if there were any charges involved with driving into the city and explained about London's congestion charge - definitely not, I was told.

So we headed for the city and after driving on empty roads for 2 weeks I suddenly had to contend with 4/5 lanes of fast moving traffic which knew where it was going.  Still our Satnav wasn't too bad, only bailed on us once.  We got to the Travelodge but there was nowhere to park so I stopped in Langham's Hotel opposite and literally ran across the road, dumped two bags for Ian to sort out and dashed back to the car before we got a fine or worse, towed away.

Hertz was only about 2 miles away, just the other side of the Yarra River but what we didn't know was part of the route was a Toll and once we'd turned onto the road there was no way off.  I was so upset, particularly as I'd thought to ask in advance.  Anyway we told Hertz and it'll cost us AUD 10 toll plus AUD 38 for them to pay it on our behalf and because it's a hire car we can't pay it - b*gger.

So a few pictures of Melbourne CBD (Central Business District) as we made our way back to the Travelodge to check in.

Melbourne "laneways" are well known for their 'street art' aka graffiti and totally by accident we found ourselves at the bottom of the most famous one - Hosier Lane. I don't often photograph other people's art but liked this koala one.

   And one of them in the, presumably, illegal act.

Flinders Street Railway Station - rumour has it that the original designs for this were accidentally mixed up with the plans for Mumbai’s main train station. It makes sense: Mumbai got a looming, gothic building, and Melbourne got a vaguely East Indian-inspired design. Whether it’s true or not this is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. 

The station clocks are a famous meeting point.

The Forum Theatre, which is built in a Moorish Revival style complete with tall spire-like minarets and a clock tower.

Steps leading to Federation Square and then the square itself.

I think any city is improved by having a river running through it and Melbourne is no exception.

Back to check-in where I mentioned to the young lady that I'd phoned earlier and it turns out I spoke to her.  She was mortified that she'd forgotten about the toll roads and gave me a bottle of wine as compensation (retail price AUD 29 so not far out, except we already had an adequate supply in the suitcase, but I appreciated the gesture).

Bags dumped and after a reviving cuppa we set off to Southern Cross Station to purchase our Skybus airport transfer tickets ready for Friday.  Then we picked up a tram to the docklands area; as with Adelaide, all trams are free within the CBD area but after that you have an Oyster Card type system which here is known as Myki.  There is a frequent announcement on the trams when you're nearing the chargeable zone saying "don't forget to touch your myki" - could easily be considered a euphemism!

It was a glorious sunny day.

This building reminded me of a pineapple.

I'm sure there is some deep meaning behind Beijing artist Wang Shugang's Meeting 1

Some of the buildings are just amazing but so tall and a nightmare to get the angles right (I've given up, but rest assured none of them are really falling over).

We were recommended by the Hertz man to visit Queen Victoria Food Market for our evening meal.  It's much like London's Spitalfields with its odd clothing and second hand stalls. 

The food was all street food stalls and I really don't like eating out of polystyrene with plastic knives and forks, plus the hygiene is always questionable. 

So we headed back to the South Bank and had a very nice meal in a waterside bistro.