Back to Melbourne

My first day back in Melbourne after Uluru was my 66th birthday. Michelle had her 44th birthday the previous Tuesday whilst I was in Uluru - that makes me exactly 50% older than her, in fact old enough to be her mother (with plenty of leeway), bloody hell doesn't time fly - we used to be doubles badminton partners!

Anyway it was Saturday, and Michelle took me out for brunch followed by a beer, then home for a snooze before Amy called for us in her car at 4pm.
We were celebrating, so the Cuba 4 and Michelle went out on the town. We started in a haunted house escape room. Michelle and I didn't have a clue what was going on and therefore no help at all and we failed to escape. But we were literally one item short so we didn't do too badly. No photos I'm afraid as they were worried that we would give it all away on social media which, of course we would! (no not really, where's the fun in that).
We were in a shopping mall and when the clock struck 6pm it played music and opened up

After that Amy led us to a backstreet bordello, no sorry, I mean Gin Bar - it was rather 'cosy' and unfortunately, some of us had the pleasure of being able to see a middle aged straight couple giving french kissing some welly which wasn't very pleasant I must say. I don't know what has happened, have I become old and grouchy or is that a step too far?

Amy and Anne making the most of the cushions

After a couple of gins, and I must say, the selection was excellent (I had the Botanist with fresh apple which was delicious) we headed off for a Chinese meal. Of course we over ordered and Michelle's parents are now enjoying a Chinese take away which they weren't expecting. I was home by 10.30pm but not finished yet! Michelle and I had a Bombay Sapphire with ice, lemon and tonic and an hilarious catch up with my dear friend T in London on Facetime - the perfect end to a perfect day!

I have a week chilling in Melbourne before going away for a further week with Michelle on the Great Ocean Road - so who knows when I will next update? I hope that's left you with a cliff hanger! ....................................

Well that was last Saturday and today is Wednesday. Yesterday I went with Denise to the Museum of Melbourne where they have a specific area dedicated to the Aboriginals of Victoria - Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre - First Peoples. The entrance was very impressive with a mixture of artwork and Aboriginal spears

The theme was First Peoples past, present and future. It was very interactive and had a number of areas where people spoke of their experiences like this Juke Box

There was a structure which looked like a hut and inside it was very dark. It had a magnificent moving sculpture hanging from the ceiling which was lit in different ways depending on what was being said over the speakers

The exhibition was very informative telling of the plight of the Aboriginals when the British came over and gave them small pox and took their land in exchange for blankets, flour and other items, making them 'sign' documents that they didn't understand and, of course, killing them if they didn't comply

It told of the lives of the Aboriginals then, the more recent past and also about the future and trying to hold on to their culture, values and skills

I particularly liked the piece about the cloak - when you are born you get your first possum skin and as your life goes on you add to it so that you have a patchwork cloak (fur on the inside). Each skin has a story on it about your life and then when you die you are buried with it wrapped around you so that the stories can be seen and read

I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and would recommend it as a 'must see'

I've seen a bit more of Melbourne nowand here are a few pictures

The old fashioned City Circle Tram which is free!

There is an awful lot of sky scrapers being

built in Melbourne these days

On Wednesday evening the Cuba 4 got together for a visit to the Queen Victoria night market. It was incredibly busy, with street food, live bands, crafts, clairvoyants (Amy had a go at that), and Japanese massage (I had my head and neck done - I didn't realise how stiff I was, I told you travelling was hard work!). It was most enjoyable and well worth visiting

On Thursday I met up with Denise and went to St Kildas for a day at the beach

This is a popular theatre for 'big' names

The funfair

The lovely sandy beach - I even went in the sea twice!

The skyline of Melbourne

We knew that the little pier at the end of the beach had Blue Penguins hiding in the rocks around it so off we went to investigate. Although penguins do not like the daylight (their eyes are very sensitive to Ultra Violet) there is a chance to see them during the day if they are molting their feathers, They feed themselves up until they are so fat they can hardly move and then hide in the rookery for 3 weeks until they have shed all their feathers and developed new ones. This is a very vulnerable time for them as preditors can kill them off. We were fortunate to find some although I did have to dangle the camera over the edge of the boardwalk

I was passing by a fisherman as he caught this Ray - not sure what type

That we evening we went to see a show - it was Chicago starring Jason Donovan (who got a warm applause) and Casey Donovan (who got a rapturous applause - apparently she won Australian Idol in 2004 and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. She is of Indigenous descent. It was a great show and a good end to an enjoyable day

It's now Friday and I took myself off to Melbourne Gaol where Ned kelly was hanged

It was built in 1845 and closed down in 1924

He was hanged on the second floor

Tomorrow I am off for more adventures, this time with Michelle, on the Great Ocean Road