Farewell to Melbourne

The Melbourne Saga, part 3.

Tuesday was my first day entirely under my control. I had a leaflet with the main Melbourne attractions on it, and decided to go to the Queen Victoria Market first, and then possibly to the Rialto Tower and/or the Great Exhibition building, depending on the knee. I took the train, rather late after a leisurely start, and then a tram up to the markets, which occupy several large sheds. The first one was clothes, jewellery and general merchandise (lots of souvenirs, which I hope to get in Perth rather than add to my luggage now!), and at almost the first I bought a pair of white cropped trousers, very suitable for Australia. Up at the top were huge displays of locally grown fruit and vegetables, and then fresh and tasty looking fish and meat. I enjoyed walking around for a couple of hours, with an interval for lunch (a delicious curry platter), but by then my knee was beginning to protest. So after checking out where the airport bus left from, I took the next train home to rest it. I do think that having a bad knee is making me avoid getting exhausted with too much sightseeing.

Wednesday, said Google's weatherbug, was going to be cloudy in Melbourne. It was wrong: bright sunshine with just a few clouds, and a very pleasant temperature of about 26 or so prevailed for most of the day. I had most of the day free, so I set out to do what I'd not done the day before, and go up the Rialto tower 360 degree view. I found it with no problem, though I was surprised at the lack of signing: when I got inside, the lady on reception told me it had been closed since November!

Undaunted, I set out for the other viewing platform, the Eureka Skydeck, a short tram ride away and a little walk. The Skydeck was almost 300m above ground, giving spectacular views over the whole of Melbourne, the harbour, the coast and quite a way inland. I wandered round, taking lots of pictures and admiring particularly the bridges carrying the freeways across the Yarra and other rivers.

I came down and walked back across the bridge to get the free city circle tram round to Melbourne Central, the big shopping precinct I'd seen earlier. There was a food court here with lots of choices for lunch: mine was bigger than I'd expected (but then everything in Australia has been so!). After that, I set out for the Great Exhibition building: they had one of these in Melbourne in the 1880s at the initiative of Prince Albert, who of course had set up the London one in 1851. Again a short tram ride took me to the edge of Exhibition Park, and I walked up to the building: alas I could find no way in, and concluded it was shut, at least on Wednesdays. So I caught another tram to Parliament station and thence a train home,
feeling that at least I'd made good use of the day ticket!

That evening, there was a shared meal at the Meeting House and a talk by Dale Hess in a series entitled 'Quaker Heritage'. Dale was talking about English dissenters from the Lollards (14th century) to the Muggletonians, and how the Quakers had grown out of the sense of ferment which had thrown up so many groups. We had an interesting and informed discussion. Then it was time to do most of the packing before going to bed: but first I chatted to two Scottish young people who had just arrived to stay at the Meeting House. Laurel, the woman, was known to Liz Anderton (see earlier) who had worked with her mother - what a small world it is! They were both physiotherapists, and I got some good advice for treating my knee (put ice on when possible).

Next morning I finished packing and set off for the airport. The journey to Canberra was uneventful, despite my case being slightly overweight! (thankfully, they didn't charge me). Heather and Les met me, recognising me from the photo I'd sent, and we picked up the bag and headed back via the parliament building and a lookout point which gave a splendid view over Canberra. Then back home for a rest, a meal and some very good conversation.