EC-Rider Travels

Today is Mum’s last day 😔 so we decided to play the tourist one last time and do a river cruise down the Yarra which runs through the city of Melbourne. We met the ‘Yarra Countess’ in the city centre and headed down river through the arts and commercial districts via a very glitzy marina to the docks and then turned round and went up river where before long we seemed to be in deep countryside. It was in fact just one of the many parks – Herring Island. There are parks and gardens everywhere. Apparently when the city was designed by Robert Hoddle (1837) he wanted everyone to be within 15 minutes of a green space and it appears that this is still much the case. They are beautifully maintained with minimal litter and along the river-bank there are numerous bbq’s which are for anyone to use – love that!

Melbourne is an extraordinarily good looking city with some truly stunning architecture, whether it is of the historic colonial houses, each different to its neighbour, or the spectacular modern architecture of the city buildings. It has a population of almost 5 million and is Australia’s second-largest city. Beyond its central city and docklands area, it seems to spread for ever, covering almost 10,000 square kilometres. As soon as you leave the central districts, almost all houses are just one or two stories high, many with lovely gardens and in the main very attractive. It appears space is not at a premium here, you just spread further and further and add another suburb.

As we floated down the river, with Peter our captain and Peter his ‘dick-hand’, we learnt how the city had been built on a swamp (which has caused many problems over the years), and that it was the Capital of Australia from 1901-1927 before it was handed to Canberra. It is recognised as being one of the most liveable cities on earth and is often referred to as ‘the Sporting Capital of the World’. This was Peter’s specialist subject …. telling us that in 1956 it hosted the first Olympic Games held outside Europe/US and the 2006 Commonwealth Games; and will also host the 2026 games. It hosts the Australian Open (tennis), the Melbourne Cup (richest handicap horse race), the Grand Prix and of course the cricket. This was one of the first sports to become organised in Melbourne with the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) forming within three years of settlement in 1859 and the first Test Match with England in 1877! Aussie Rules football started in the parklands next to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1858, to keep the cricketers fit.

Besides this, Melbourne is famous for its mural walled lanes, excellent coffee, cultural diversity and beautiful beaches. It boasts the highest ratio of cafes and restaurants per capita in the world and the first ever public library, which was established in 1854. This eclectic city appears to have something for everyone – I am sure it is a lovely place to live.

We returned back to Surrey Hills for Mum to pack up her bags. The nice man from Emirates arrived an hour and a half early which was a bit of a surprise, but needless to say Mum was ready and we bid her a fond farewell. It will be strange to be without my travelling companion.

A late night call from Tatts – brought just the best news ever …. of her engagement to Tom Ransom – HOORAY!