A Hop, Skip and a Jump

A Hop, Skip, and a Jump

From Hobart, back to Melbourne

On Friday Dec. 17th we left Hobart to return to Melbourne.
In Melbourne we went to the Melbourne Gaol (read as jail) which is now a museum.  At the jail, Don and I,  with thirty others, underwent a mock booking.  Don was charged with disturbing the peace and I was picked-up for petty theft.  We were paraded in front of the booking sargeant who read out our charges, then the men were seperated from the women.  Next we were locked in large holding cells - one for men and one for women -  where we would remain until  our court dates.

Lucky for us it was all play and we were soon let go to wander through the three floors of the prison.  Posted on the walls of the cells were  the stories of some of the inmates and, if they were hung, their death mask on a pedestal.  The stories were often of women and men who found themselves in desperate situations with few choices.  It is no wonder that restless spirits are reported to haunt the cells and the hallways.
We saw the cell where the  famed outlaw, Ned Kelly, spent his last days before being hung.   His last words were, "such is life."  Altogether during the  years the jail was in operation there were 135 hangings.  The hangman was often a fellow prisoner.  
On Saturday morning, Dec. 18th, Melbourne was chilly and rainy when we bid it goodbye.  We hopped a Virgin Blue flight to Perth and for two weeks with Peter and Christine Roche.  I just hope we don't end up over staying our welcome.  I have warned Don not to tell any stale Canadian jokes or even worse,  provocative Australian ones.  
We were an hour late landing in Perth.  The plane left 30 minutes late and was delayed even further by strong head winds.  When we landed we had to wait 15 minutes for a parking bay.  Once we got to the parking bay we then stood in the aisle waiting for staff to guide the crossing of the  tarmac.
From the moment Peter and Christine took us under their wings we were off and running.  Never a dull moment.  First day we saw Mikki  - Christine's mom - whom we met previously in the United Arab Emirates.  Plus, we met their daughter Katie and her daughter Sophie.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . .    Well not really, but there are a lot of  decorations on display.  One that caught our eye is a store front with an upside-down tree with the caption, 'Chrissy - Down Under'.  
On Monday the four of us headed south for a 4 day stay at the Abbey Beach Resort in Busselton.  Over the next four days between rain showers we explored the beaches, lighthouses and the shops.  Great area steeped in history.
Up and out at 10 am on Wednesday for the Wine and Bushtucker Tour.  The driver was a stand-up comic want-to-be.  Well suited for his job.  One of our stops was called The Grove where we were served a delicious array of liquors.  I might add that this was the 4th stop on our tour and some of us were pretty 'happy' - especially the group of 4 young men who had comsumed a bottle or two of whiskey the night before.    Anyway at the Grove the man behind the counter rivaled Don Rickles and our driver was his very capable side-kick.

Here is a recipe for a yummy after Christmas dinner drink:
      In a shot glass pour in layers (1/4 " each) of the following liquors:  macadamia nut, coconut
      and white chocolate.  Top it off with a layer of cream.  Tastes like an icecream sundae.
The Bushtucker portion was traditional Aboriginal fare:  Kacado plum, Witchery grub, Bush Lime, Bakyunga, Tasmanian Pepper berry, bush tomato.  These veggies and fruits were served with mostly traditrional cold-cuts except for kangaroo.  It was reddy in colour like corned beef and actually tasted like corned beef.    All around a fabulous day of eating, drinking and talking to people from all over the world.
Australia is experiencing heavy rains.  There is flooding south of Sydney, north of Perth and now in Cairns.  So far we have managed to dodge the flood waters but we may be affected on the next leg of our journey.  We are to fly to Cairns January 4th to pick up a camper van.  The highway heading south out of the city is closed.  So we'll see what happens.
Chritmas Day is going to be a hot one - 38 degrees.  Not a snowdrift in site.
Enjoy the holidays where ever you are.  Eat, drink and be merry!

The Oz in Australia

The Oz in Australia

On Monday we flew from Melbourne, in the Victoria state, to Hobart in the Tasmania State. Melbourne is a beautiful city and is deservedly billed as the cultural center of Australia. We kept busy racing from one area to another, but didn't have nearly enough time to do the city justice. The St. Kilda pier was special - the sea is an ongoing draw. The rocks and huge boulders, that form part of the breakwater, is a nesting site for the Little Penguin. We were lucky to see penguins in their natural setting.
Australia bid good-bye to Oprah on Wednesday. She taped two shows at the Sydney Opera House (which the media has started calling the Oprah House

We're Here

    After 25 hour of travel time for Don, and 21 for me, we staggered out of the Sydney Kingston-Smith terminal into lush green tree-lined streets and sunshine.  What is really rather mystifying is that somewhere over the ocean we lost Tuesday.  If we never returned then the truth is we have lost one full day of our lives.  I wonder if that is enough incentive to return to the snow and cold.

     After settling into our hotel in the Kings Cross district (according to the guide book, "stylish and sleazy) we walked to the Sydney Opera House.  Built in 1973 it is to Sydney what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.  When we got there, on a whim, we went in to see if we could get tickets to a show.  Our dates were limited and so were the tickets available.  We did get tickets to see the Sydney Symphony Tchaikovsky's Violin Conceerto and Sleeping Beauty.  Of course we couldn't help but feel cultural pride when we read that the virtuoso violinist is Canada's own James Ehnes from Brandon, Manitoba.
    Like most major cities Sydney is expensive.  You have to look far and wide to find a pint of beer for less than $10.00.  Housing is in short supply and thus goes at a premium.  To find affordable prices locals are forced to move to the small surrounding towns.  Some end up commuting to their jobs in the City 2 plus hours each way.   Rent is priced by the week.  How does $500 to $600. per week sound?  How many of you fancy paying that?  Not "good on you Mate." 

    The Australian paper bills are crisp and brightly colored, making it easy to identify the different bills.  Unlike the American, limp, pale-green bills which require a close inspection to make sure you aren't handing over more that you intend to.   Like Canada Australia has a $1. and $2. coin.  They are smaller than the Canadian coins and don't have colorful names.  The Loonie and Toonie are now as distinctly Canadian as "eh".

   On Thursday we crawled out of bed at the crack of dawn, missing breakfast, to catch a bus for a Blue Mountain Excursion.   First stop was the Featherland Wildlife Park.  Australia is known for their unusual wildlife and a large collection were on display at the park.   Pictured: a comfortably sleeping Koala, a Barking Owl and the Hairy-nosed Wombat.
    Oprah Winfry is here with us.  There are large, orange banners lining the main thoroughfares advertising her visit.  It is nice of her to come over to keep us company.  It's just too that she forgot to add our names to her entourage.
    The Blue Mountains get their name from the fact that they are covered in a blue haze.  One "must see" photo op are the Three Sisters: 3 hoodoo-like pinnacles that have sparked many legends.  We heard 2 different versions of how they came to be.   Quaint mountain villages dot the road as you climb higher into the mountains.  Most of them started out as summer retreat destinations.  Two cable cars and the worlds steepest train (funicular) are on hand to help you get great views plus down into the valley for some hiking.  Overall an interesting all-day outing.
     (We are fighting with this blog site.  It refuses to cooperate.  Hopefully, the appearances of the blogs will improve over time.  If not, so-be-it.)  
     This afternoon we fly to Melbourne.  (We seem to stay one step behind Oprah.  I wonder is she trying to avoid us.)