We woke this morning around 7 and discovered that we both felt no ill effects of jet lag – at least not yet. Once we had gone down to the breakfast – our first for an Australian breakfast – we learned there was little different from our regular. The only difference is the coffee machine makes drip coffee one cup at a time using freshly ground beans each time. Very good coffee.
We headed off to catch the metro downtown where we wanted to start our touring. As we waited for the metro train we watched as people arrived dressed as if going to a wedding – suit, boutonnieres’ etc. I had to ask if there was wedding happening and learned they were going to the Melbourne Cup (horse racing) family day and it was custom to dress formally for the day. Women had on hats of every description. We figured that the entire population must be heading that way but alas we learned that was not to be the case.
Once downtown we wanted to go to the Visitor’s Center where there was free wifi so we could connect and check our emails. While there we started to look for the affiliate/associate to BCAA so we could get some maps and campsite information. Fortunately we found out that in the state of Victoria it is called the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. We found a few excellent books but unlike Canada members have to pay ½ price for items. Now we are ready with maps and campsite information to start the touring of the east coast.
Then we decided we needed to deal with our phone so hunted down the recommended cell service company. We discussed the idea of buy a new SIM card and have it put into the blackberry. But the cost for this meant we would have to use a pay as you go service and the phone rates were extremely expensive. Alternatively we could buy a mobile broadband USB stick giving us the ability to get internet access for the computers anywhere there is cell service. After considering costs, and realizing that cell service for phone use was not reasonable or needed, we bought a mobile stick. Now we can avoid paying the extra costs for internet access as we travel from place to place.
From here we headed off to lunch and then started to do some sight seeing. We walked down along the Yarra River until we got to the Alexander Gardens by the boat sheds and started enjoying some of the sites. We had a chance to check the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Then we walked through Kings Domain park admiring the flowers and walked by the Government House. This is the house for the Australian Governor General.
As we left the park we walked over to the Shrine of Remembrance which is the Soldier’s memorial. The memorial was excellent and had a total sense of reverence and memory with a museum of artefacts on display. Since there was a support desk available and I had been asked by my aunt to enquire about a soldier she was researching I asked. They were very helpful and found a lot of really good information which I will pass on to her.
After we left the Shrine of Remembrance we wondered around the Botanical Gardens enjoying the plants, trees and flowers. It is a very well used park (today is Saturday) but every where we looked and walked there were lots families walking, picnicking and enjoying the warm sunny spring weather.
By this time we had been on the go for about 7 hours and our feet were starting to complain. So it was time to work our way back to the hotel. We had found a restaurant close to the hotel that we liked so we simply had dinner there and headed back to the hotel to rest our feet and give me a chance to get the blog written and posted. Wes is working his way through the books to decide what adventures we will endeavour tomorrow remembering that Sunday morning early we head to the airport to fly to Tasmania and pick up the first campervan.
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