Day Eighteen - Melbourne

I really am sleeping well here, something I rarely do.  We, as usual, had our day planned out and the first port of call was to visit Queen Victoria Market, the largest outdoor market in Australia.  We can see it from the window of our apartment and we thought we would go there and get some food.  But first of all, in revenge for me calling this apartment The Inn of the Sixth Happiness I

need to complete the immersive experience by going to a chemist and buying some blister pads.  Granted, it is not like having my feet bound like the film, but it is kind of like the same thing.  I have had a blister on the ball of my right foot for a while now and in typical Karen fashion, have done nothing about it.  Needless to say, by the end of yesterday evening it had grown in size to that of China.  These blister pads could have been $20 each, I still would have had them.  I instructed Andy to have a look at my foot and administer the bandages (plaster).  I can look at the bottom of my foot but my back has been so good at the moment and I did not want to rock the boat.  Plaster administered, I was ready to go.

We walked up to Queen Victoria Market and straight away I could tell something was not quite right.  It was too quiet.  Then we noticed the opening hours which are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

and Sunday!  Why? Why have Monday off, go back Tuesday, have Wednesday off only to go back to work on Thursday? Why?  Granted, I did not want to go to the market to buy anything and it would have been good to have a look at the market.  However, this is revenge for every Sunday I have been to Neal's Yard at Borough Market and said 'don't tourists know the market is not open on a Sunday?'  Lesson learnt.

We turned the corner and found a Spanish place that was doing breakfast and we thought the sounded good, and good it was!  I had about 2lbs of mushrooms, pouched egg, sour dough and onion.  Coupled with a long black (Americano coffee, i.e. black salad) and a jar of orange juice.  Absolutely amazing, and I did not want it to end.  We paid the bill and passed on our thanks and complements to the chef.  It was a great breakfast.

We then made our way to the next event of the day, which was really a 

busman's holiday for me.  We went to visit Melbourne's Gaol.  It really was interesting and the first part was a semi immersive interaction of us being arrested and being 'processed' by the prison guard.  I have seen Wentworth Prison, I know what happens thank you.  She was really good and it was fun.  We then looked around the prison and this is where Ned Kelly was executed.  I have to say, the faded photos of Ned Kelly caught my eye and he was, what now would be, an every day hipster kind of guy.

We walked up the road and into Carlton Gardens and both wanted a drink.  We made our way to Melbourne Museum and had a lovely chat with the guy who sold us our tickets.  He was very interested, for some strange reason, about how light the evenings are in the UK.  That aside, the museum was amazing.  It had a great deal of focus on Aboriginal culture and one thing I have noticed is how there are mentions and notifications of how people acknowledge the true ownership of this land and recognise the former elders.   The exhibition was really good.  In fact, the whole museum was great, very interactive and it kept us both amused for ages.

It was time to go and explore an area of Melbourne called Fitzroy.  I had been

told about this area and it had been described to me as Melbourne's answer to Shoreditch.  An edgy, creative, hipstery part of town where there would be vegan food (finally).  I really have struggled to find vegan food in the whole of Australia.  Even today, at breakfast they had what they called a vegetarian breakfast then I saw it had salmon on it!  It reminds me of back in the day when no-one understood vegetarianism let alone veganism.  We walked bloody ages and Brunswick Street is very much like Shoreditch in that it needs a good clean up and an evening with a power wash!  We did find a vegan restaurant. Yay!  For the first time since arriving, I could have anything on the menu.  Anything!

Yet another strange thing happened.  As we took our seat a song come on the music being played and it was Ballroom Blitz by The Sweet.  Recently, I compiled my 8 songs for my Desert Island Discs

programme, and this was one of them!  Of course it was. It reminds me of my 13 birthday.  Really strange.  I decided to have the Australian delight of 'Chicken' Parma, which is not chicken in my case but a substitute, covered in breadcrumbs, tomato sauce on the top and cheese.  It was really nice and it come with a lovely salad and some crushed potatoes.  I started chatting to the guy who owned/worked there and he was blatantly my age and I said that I had done vegan January and had carried it on but really struggled since arriving in Australia. He agreed and told me of a couple of places in Newtown, Sydney but agreed that Australia really is not vegan friendly.  Just goes to show I should not assume things.

It was difficult walking back to The Inn of the Sixth Happiness as my foot bounding was aching and I had eaten too much, but I managed it.  I have just tried to check in on line and it only let me do half of it, telling me that I need to speak to someone at check in.  Whilst I hope it is to upgrade me to first class; I suspect it is related to the coronavirus world panic!  Watch this space.

Last night in Australia.  It has been an amazing experience and I really miss the kangaroos and wombats already and are still dreaming of my new home on Phillip Island.  However, back in the real world.  Quiet night tonight as once again I have done 17k steps.  The suitcase can be packed tomorrow.

As always, with my love x