in Melbourne ...

Sun, blue sky and about 25 degrees – that was the forecast for this day. Off we went in light summer clothes and our good ol’ Tilley hats, sunglasses and sunscreen in the bag. Breakfast on the way to “Federation Square” where we found free wireless net access and e-mailed to our hearts’ content. Federation Square is a hyper modern building with an Art’s Gallery, shops, cafés and an open theatre similar to Robson Square in Vancouver. This is where the action in Melbourne takes place. Whether it’s conventions, performances or demonstrations of all kinds, it’s happening at Federation Square.

After our internet session we made our way to the historical red tram on Russell Street that operates every day for free and is called the “City Circle Tour”. On the way to the tram stop we got caught up in a huge crowd, police control, barriers, helicopters above and a steady line-up of fancily clad people moving towards the main entrance of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It hit us then – we had heard that very morning on the TV news that there would be a memorial service for Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, who had died at 103 a few days earlier. She was the mother of Rupert Murdoch, the infamous newspaper tycoon who got into big trouble in England last year. Needless to say we stayed put with the hordes of media filming, commenting live on air from across the cathedral, watching all the dignitaries arrive etc. The service was broadcast on huge screens outside. Apparently Dame Elisabeth (yes, with an “s” instead of a “z”!!) was a great Australian philanthropist who gave support to many charities in the country, most of all to the Murdoch Children’s Hospital Foundation. She was very revered and loved, therefore all the flags on official buildings were flown on half staff today.


We finally jostled ourselves away from the masses and took to the famous red tram that stops at intervals throughout the city. It went around to the city’s most famous places like the Immigration Museum, Aquarium, Botanical Garden, Harbour Esplanade and the Docklands with its new shopping mall. There we got off and wandered around the harbour to the marina and to the mall for lunch and a spot of shopping. Just as we came out of the mall area we spotted the red shuttle bus that also operates for free and takes you on a bigger tour around Melbourne. We hopped on and off we went, listening to most interesting historical facts and stories told by the lively female bus driver. We loved this tour as much as the tram ride in the morning.

By the time we arrived back downtown it was almost 5 pm. We went to the hotel for a bit of rest and uploading of our pictures. At about 8 pm we went for dinner around the corner and a nice evening stroll through the still busy neighbourhood with many shops and restaurants still open.
Melbourne is a great city with great vibes!! We love it and don’t know which is better, Sydney or Melbourne. It’s a real toss-up. One could easily live here or there, and we might have, were we younger and just starting out. The only disadvantage (?) is the far distance from the rest of the world …

Sigi told me that I might want to pare down my lyrics a bit, so the honourable reader’s attention is not stretched to the limit… I am trying to stick to the most important impressions! 

Wednesday was a day for taking it all in by way of absorbing the sights and sounds of Melbourne. We took the red free tourist shuttle bus around the bigger parameter of the city that went on for almost 2 hours. We got out at the National Victoria Art Gallery and went in to do our e-mails and posting of the blog. Had a spot of lunch at the gallery’s café and went on to Federation Square to do more computer work since the server at NVAG was way too slow. Afterwards we meandered through the city, sat on one of the many park benches and did some people watching, eating our obligatory afternoon icecream.

drive to Melbourne

We drove quite a long distance yesterday and therefore only had about 350 km left till Melbourne. Sigi had booked us on the computer into the “Victoria Hotel” in Melbourne for the next 3 nights on the advice of Wilma, so we didn’t have to worry about accommodation. Again it was a lovely drive with ever changing nature around us. It got flatter and less fertile, rather brown and dry. As we approached Melbourne we realized that we were back in civilization with rush hour and traffic chaos. Wilma already warned us about this. Thanks to “Oscar” our i-pad GPS we got into town alright but just at the last stretch right smack in the middle of the city Oscar gave up it’s ghost and refused to tell us where to go. For him it was always “200 m straight ahead”… Thanks to Sigi’s superior navigation skills (I think I mentioned this before!) we somehow ended up in ‘Little Collins Street” in front of the Victoria Hotel. Phew!! Made it!! Traffic was hell, there were buses and many trams all around, still driving on the left and the police out in droves directing traffic although all lights were in full working order… ???
Got checked into the hotel OK, fine room on the 7th floor smack dab in the middle of Melbourne, all attractions and points of interest just steps away on foot or the free red tourist tram as well as the free red shuttle bus. Do we have free tourist transportation in Vancouver, I wonder? Would be a good idea if it isn’t already in place…

Having been installed in our room and taken a little rest we started walking around our area, down to the water, across various fabulous bridges taking pictures all the way. Found a great outdoor restaurant in Southbank with a view on the Yarra River where we had steak, frites and beer.

Ambled back to the ‘Victoria’ for a nightcap and a very good night’s sleep.

drive from Bateman’s Bay to Lakes Entrance in the state of Victoria

 We got a good start Sun morning from the Comfort Inn to the village for breakfast outside on a patio with view of an inlet, lots of boats and oodles of sunshine.

The drive down the coast towards ‘Lakes Entrance’ was lovely, varied and very impressive nature wise. At times our surroundings looked like the Allgaeu in Bavaria, only much bigger. Rolling green hills as far as the eye took you, fields, streams and a few trees here and there and the omnipresent smell of eucalyptus which was the only reminder that we are actually in Australia. Memory wise it took us right back to northern California…

We arrived at ‘Lakes Entrance’ around 6 pm and found a very comfy motel, called “The Hibiscus” – there were tons of blooming hibiscus hedges in all colours surrounding the motel, hence the very fitting name. We met Wilma, the owner, who was a wealth of knowledge and information as well as very generous re. washing machine and dryer and laundry detergent that she offered me for free. She also advised us where to go for dinner, the RSL around the corner. That’s the ‘Royal Southern Legion” which offered a great assortment of food and drinks.

Back at the motel we did a week’s worth of laundry (an old ‘Fisher and Paykel’ machine was in our apartment). We had a bedroom and a living room with kitchenette. All very practical. Wilma even included free wireless and gave us splendid advice where to stay in Melbourne where we would be headed the next day.

to Bateman’s Bay via Wollongong

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel, on to do some food shopping at the famous Woolworth’s and out of the city in the direction of Wollongong. It wasn’t easy to find the highways and byways but thanks to our GPS and Sigi’s superior navigation skills we got on to the right road and followed the commands. Lots of brush box wood on the side of the road, up the hills and as far as one could see. Here and there we connected with the sea, lovely sandy bays and beaches or rocky cliffs with huge waves. We did a spot of lunch high above the beach with a great view of the ocean and freighters in the distance. Later in the afternoon we arrived at Bateman’s Bay and checked in at the very nice Comfort Inn to a room on a small lake with lots of frogs in it and rolling meadows all around. Dinner was had in the village of Bateman’s Bay where we were able to watch a great sunset.

rental car pick-up, driving on the left…

Today is the day – picking up our rental car. We arrived by taxi around 9.30 at the Budget agency and got our black (!!!) Mitsubishi ASX on the spot. We hadn’t ordered an SUV but the smaller Mitsubishi Lancer. That one wasn’t available, so we were upgraded to the SUV. Better for us – higher seating, better view. That’s especially necessary for driving on the left side of the road. Sigi did a fine job and found the way back to the hotel in no time. He didn’t once stray to the right side of the road. Funny thing in these cars is the reversion of blinker (on the right) and windshield wiper handle (on the left). It took Sigi a few times to indicate the direction correctly on the right instead of using the wiper blades… Now it was on to conference for Sigi. He had to deliver his presentation this afternoon. I planned to  go on the monorail for a bit and see the city.

Around 3:15 Bettina heard roaring and seemingly never ending applause coming from the conference centre of UTS: Aha, Sigi must have just completed his technical presentation! Later this afternoon at around 5 pm our friends from Vancouver who spend the Canadian winter each year in Australia (visiting family and vacationing) will pick us up from the hotel and take us for dinner. Looking forward to it.

Shopping again at Darling Harbour and listening to the early afternoon youth orchestra on the promenade with an ice cream cone was another special treat for me before heading back to the hotel. Sigi came ‘home’ around 4 pm after his presentation and official wrap-up of the conference. We had time for a quick rest and shower before meeting Leigh and Bob downstairs who came to pick us up in their car.

Leigh navigated from the back seat by way of an i-pad GPS and Bob chauffeured us to Rushcutters Bay close to the Speeds’ hotel, and from there we walked through a lovely park down to the marina where the million dollar yachts were moored. Many of them were actually out on the bay sailing the Friday afternoon race. One of the big sail boats moored at the marina was one that will take part in the upcoming Sydney to Hobart regatta. Leigh and Bob took us to the yacht club for dinner on the patio, where we had a delicious meal, beer and a blast with 2 other Aussies at our table who were most entertaining and informative for us northerners We didn’t quite understand everything they said but got the gist of it. All around us were Christmas parties going on or TGIF celebrations. The atmosphere was contagious, and we just enjoyed the pure ‘joie de vivre’ all around us. These Aussies know how to live it up. Good on them, mate…
We got back to the hotel around 9.30 and packed our cases to be ready for tomorrow’s check-out and trip down the coast in the direction of Melbourne.

Sydney Opera House

Today was the big day for me – I had planned a guided tour through the Sydney Opera House while Sigi was at conference. He left early again, I shortly thereafter for a quick bite at “Dendu’s” for breakfast, then on to the # 555 free shuttle bus from Central Station to Circular Quay. I had to walk on foot first down Harris Street to George which turns into Pitt Street then right into Eddy to the bus stop. No problem, I found my way and waited patiently for about 20 min. for our bus. Arriving at the Circular Quay I got a ticket for the 1 hour tour at 11 am and paid the price for an “International Senior” (over 60)… Our guide James handed our group of about 25 people earphones and explained the “ins and outs, do’s and don’ts” of the tour. We all had to park our bag packs in cubby holes and weren’t allowed to take pics inside the various theatres. He made us aware of the roughly 200 stairs we had to climb, in case anybody wanted to bow out… Then the tour began. What a marvellous architectural structure – inside and out. Everything is super modern, Danish in design with light birch wood, steel and concrete. The seats in the theatres were super comfortable but looked hyper modern, being made from light wood and red upholstery. Very ergonomical indeed!! One can imagine sitting in those for hours on end.

James explained the history of the Opera House, mentioned the Danish architect Joern Utzon who won the design competition for the opera in the late fifties, the problems along the way of construction and the millions of budget overruns. In the end, Utzon was released from the contract, he resigned, and a team of Australian architects and engineers finished the project. It took almost 14 years to do this, and in 1973 the Queen officially opened the Sydney Opera House.

I can very well imagine to see Puccini’s “La Bohème” opera or “Swan Lake” ballet in these grand theatres. Unfortunately all is sold out and has been for months.

Back at the hotel I met Sigi – we rested up for the conference banquet at 7 pm. This was a very well organized affair with a champagne reception and a very delicious dinner. Entertainment was given between courses by engineering students who had artistic talents of piano playing and opera singing. Very animated and professional!! We were all delighted by the charming performances! After dinner a competition was held for the location of the next conference in 2014 at either Brisbane, Wollongong or Byron Bay (Southern Cross) Universities. All conference participants had one vote, after each presenter introduced the high academic achievements and particular benefits of their university as well as the superior recreational possibilities of their region. In the end Southern Cross University in Byron Bay won.

Another entertainer, hailing from Hawaii, took to the stage and warmed up the crowd with rock, blues and jazz songs that didn’t keep Sigi and me on our chairs. We got up and danced, very much to the pleasure of the others… I got a lovely fragrant lei from the singer as a small thank you for livening up the show!

It was a great day with many interesting events and fascinating people. We got ‘home’ to the hotel at midnight.

shopping at Paddy’s Market

Sigi’s first full day of conference at UTS. He left around 8 am while I took my good ol’ time to read the “Sydney Morning Herald” from front to back – nothing better to find out what makes the locals tick than to read their local paper.

After a nice breakfast at “Caffetinis” I strolled down to Paddy’s Market to explore the booths and the goods. Found a pair of very light flowing cotton pants and a similar gauzy type of blouse/cover plus a small evening bag. We hadn’t counted on going to the reception and banquet dinner put on by the conference organizers, therefore I didn’t pack anything elegant for myself. Sigi is ALWAYS elegant in his silk/wool suit plus lavender shirt with matching tie….
We met again at the hotel in the late afternoon, Sigi exhausted by the many lectures and discussions, myself tired from the growing heat and shopping at the market. After a good rest and shower we took dinner at the Chinese restaurant beside the hotel where they now know us by now.

We then went on foot back to Darling Harbour, Sigi taking the tripod and camera along for some artistic sundown pictures. It was fascinating to watch all the goings-on along the various harbour promenades, people from all over the world congregating, families with kids and grandparents, eating, laughing, playing, taking pictures or just sitting with a glass of wine…