Sunny and Fresh Melbourne
Trip Start
Jun 15, 2007
1
21
158
Trip End
Jun 12, 2008
Melbourne,
Australia
Sunday, July 22, 2007
We stopped at the side of the road to see a "flock" (no they can't be a flock because they can't fly) of huge emus - they look stupid and act stupidly, but they are very impressive. We also saw, of course the usual Kangaroos. You might not believe us but the best bit is the variety of wonderful birdlife here.
The beaches on the "Prom"are the best we have seen so far. Some of them have the white-est and squeekiest sand on the planet. The scenery is awesome and the tourist population almost non-existant at this time of the year.
We stayed at the Foster YHA and met a great young couple of Germans, Carsten and Martine (We hope the spelling is OK ), who live in Switzerland. It was so cold there that we were glad we were indoors. We ended up staying in the more up-market accommodation unit next door on the second night and they were there with us again.We used their milk in the morning although we didn't realize it. We thought it was ours but I'd left ours in the car and they both looked exactly the same. We apologise to them if they read our Blog. Another thing we would like to say to them is thanks for choosing the second room - ours had electric blankets and we don't think that theirs did. A great place for all of us to stay anyway.
We reached Melbourne on the 21st. and we are staying at a guesthouse which we found in the Lonely Planet Guide, the Olembia. $75 per night at this time of year. It's small, warm (important) and spotlessly clean, suitable for couples. It's also close to the city centre and a backpacker bar that serves jugs of beer for $7. Mike was right - thanks Mike - it is cheaper than in the Uk when you find it.
We used the free city centre tourist bus service to see the Botanical Gardens, Chinatown, the National Shrine of Remembrance etc.. What a great day.
Another night in the Backpacker cheap pub and then we move on......
