Diary for Adventures down under


Last day in Melbourne

2017-03-19

Today was hot and humid, with the temperature climbing rapidly to 33 degrees with high humidity. We loaded up our MyKi cards and took a couple of trams to Albert Park to see the F1 track. Although we couldn't get into the pit lane, we walked alongside it watching the lorries deliver the containers of equipment to the pits. There were numerous Ferrari containers and Williams and Mercedes loads were being delivered. The number one pit had Hamilton and Bottas' names displayed of course; there was a lot of activity there and around the track. Cables were being laid and the giant TV screens were in place. The safety car was being unloaded too. Public cars were still using part of the track, but there were diversions in place preventing use of the full track. We walked half of the track, it was very hot and humid, so slow going; we then caught a tram to St Kilda for a spot of lunch, some shopping and some sightseeing. A few aging bikers roared up noisily as we got there, and there was a bit of excitement with a police car apparently stopping a tram. There was a Sunday market on the Esplanade, and Luna Park was open with the attractions in full swing. A sign outside said it was designed by the people who built Coney Island attractions in the USA, and it is the only example of a rollercoaster with a brakeman. With it being a gloriously hot Sunday, the beach was packed, as was the grassy area behind it. There was a group of drummers playing on the walkway; very loud and accomplished. We walked to the pier and watched the kite surfers again. In the distance were several parascenders very high up in the air. The breeze didn't seem strong enough for either of those activities. Another tram took us to the shrine of remembrance, which was originally dedicated to the Australian servicemen who died in WW1.  An eternal flame and WW2 memorial were dedicated by the Queen in 1954. The shrine has a marble stone of remembrance with the words "Greater love hath no man" engraved upon it. The design is such that at 11am on 11th November, the sun shines through an aperture in the roof and illuminates the word "love". We finished the day with a walk through the Botanical Gardens, which are quite lovely even though early autumn means not a lot is in flower. For our last evening meal in Melbourne, we went to the Meat and Wine Company to have our tastebuds tittilated again. Packing tonight for a midday flight to Sydney tomorrow.