Meeting Ruth Bonne

:: The City ::
:: Melbourne ::
:: Victoria ::
:: Australia ::

:: Thursday 25th September 2008 ::
:: Very sunny and warm :: Ultra windy by the sea ::

** Today I caught the train into the city to meet Ruth Bonne - A lady from Belgium who is starting the DTS on the 1st with me =] She had meant to arrived the night before and stayed in a hostel "The Nunnery". The night of the 24th I made a map from the station to The Nunnery and now on my map I labeled the roads I needed to know. **

** When I arrived at the station at 10:30am I pulled out my map and began my mission. I told Ruth I would get to her at 11. I soon realised all the roads I had written down were pretty far from each other as the blocks here were massive! I soon had a blister on my right foot from the flip flop and me trying to walk quick. **

** Everything was okay UNTIL ... I couldn't find Victoria street. But I guessed if I kept walking I would get to somewhere I recognised soon. After feeling completely lost for 10 mins my heart jumped for joy when I saw the sign saying Lygon Street. Soon I felt in my element as I now knew where I was. Now I wasn't far from my destination and it was already 11:30am.. I panicked and picked up speed with a burst blister that was absolutely killing! According to my map - Which was correct, I just never realised, I headed off left to try find The Nunnery. Big Mistake! **

** Now making a u turn I headed back to Lygon Street once I realised what a silly mistake I had made. And seeing I was in Lygon street and already late I headed into my little pink/purple hot chocolate shop. Which turns out the Hot Chocolate is $3.50 EVEN BETTER!!! haha. But I got it to go, and headed off in the right direction for once!! I saw this large colourful thing in a park and realised it was the park I had been looking for and the colourful building was the museum. **

** Hoooorahhhh!! This park was big but once I was round it I spied Nicholson Street and was relieved I was here. The Nunnery was just across the street! I got to the door and buzzed and they let me in. I went to the reception and asked if Ruth had checked in last night. They were like yeah shes here, Room 12 if you want to go up. [I was shocked they gave that info out just like that seeing as on movies they're always like "Sorry sir you know I can't give out that kind of information" hehe] Getting nervous I walked up the stairs and tried to find room 12! I knocked on the door and it opened, I wasn't too sure if it was Ruth because me being silly forgot what she looked like on facebook x] so I went, "Hi, I'm umm Shelly :D " Fortunately it was Ruth but she informed me she had just arrived due to a 10 hour delay in Hong Kong from typhoons. And she had not slept. I did ask whether she would want to sleep instead of trek round Melbourne with me. But nope, it was a nice sunny day and she was going to enjoy her first day in Auzzie. **

** We decided we would get trams because my feet hurt and she was tired. So we waited at a tram stop and when the tram arrived we got on then to our demise the next stop was the end of service for that tram. We found it highly hilarious and got off, then decided to wait for the same tram going in the opposite direction to St Kilder. **

** When we arrived in St Kilder it was real windy by the shore! But it was still a nice warm day. Ruth was hungry so we went into St Kilders high street and scouted out all the food places. We found a nice Fish & Chip shop called Harry's [So different to the English names for that kind of shop!! The Dolphin hehe!] I was amazed when I saw that a small chips was $2.80!! This made me think, [hmm maybe I should get a medium!?] but i went with my gut and got a small, which turned out to be a massive box.. okay... so it wasn't massive... but the box was like the size of an a5 piece of paper and about 2 inches deep! filled with chips!! Now these chips were just your McCain Oven Chips you know, but they tasted good so all was well =] Ruth got a burger which was pretty big too!! hehe **

** We walked back to the beach and walked along the length of it, More people were there today as it was really nice weather. Even going in the sea, so it couldn't have been too cold! We decided to walk along the pier and on the pier it was so windy you could lean against it!! I strapped my camera to my wrist while I took photos hehe. It had such a beautiful view of the Melbourne skyline! And Ruth and I were in love with the city! hehe. We decided it was too windy and started heading back to our tram stop **

** When back in the city we got off by the train station because Ruth needed to check what times her bus was leaving tomorrow and plus she thought I was going home, She probably wanted me to as she was tired hehe. I said I was going to go on the city circle tram again and take photos this time! She said she would come, so we went off hunting for the circle tram stop. Once on we had a real fun time clicking our cameras like the tourists we were. First up was the Telstra Dome (Footy stadium - And Telstra is one of their phone providers). And there in the distance they are building a Melbourne Eye, hehe looks just like ours! Then on the corner to your left was 7 Studios. This is the same channel that Home and Away is filmed and broad casted on. But that's more near Sydney :( But in these studios their Deal or No Deal and other game shows are filmed. **

** This is now by the Harbour, and lots of expensive apartment buildings have been built to make lots of money! And they look ultra modern and colourful! Also there is a lot of modern art around the Docklands In the middle there is a sculpture of a Cow in a Tree.. random yes! But its a cow so its all good :D And then on the right its just a random massive metal thing! **

** Some more metal sculpture - Looks like a bird. And then a Kids playground in the docklands.. with some cool metal sculpture that rotates and moves like planets :D And then some more fancy pancy apartments. **

** Next around the corner is this old building which looks like it might have had something to do with a church as the other side had a cross on the roof! Then more art! A stone "Eagle" that looks out over the docklands 'to protect it' lol. And then back on the right the Sea Life Centre of Melbourne. hehe **

** I spied these trees with paintings all on them, I was like WOW there is a fish on that tree. Now Ruth, who's English is good but limited must have thought I'm sure that doesn't sound right! And I was like LOOK THERE!! A FISH ON THE TREE!!! haha. They have an underground system which they don't use anymore but the station is still there, and I liked the pretty old building of it so I took a photo :D And then next to that was a train station which was a fake looking old building, but I liked it still, thought [It looks very English with the clock hehe] **

** Federation Square. An information spot for tourists and also where events are held. It was ULTRA busy as the Melbourne show has begun which is a chance for the city people to see animals such as horses etc. Its like shows of horses and cats and dogs, Like a massive Crufts! Again a very modern futuristic looking building. **

** To the east of the city you will find more stadiums, The cricket oval and also concert stadiums. With what seem to be a fair ground outside! haha. **

** Art, Statue... Museum - Haven't been in there :( but I'm sure like all museums its petty boring! A big church cathedral looking building Hidden away behind the trees! The houses of Parliament including protesters sat at the steps! lol. Pretty lamps though!**

** Simply... I just liked the car, it looked cute! **

** Ned Kelly escaped from this prison. Yeah you heard right, its a PRISON!! And it looks nicer than majority of their buildings!! HAHA. And lastly on the tour you have the Library to your left and a funky music store which caught my eye on the right :D And on the drive home I decided totake lots of photos of the really cool graffiti I saw on the train =] **

**THE END**

I do have photos to add to this but at the moment i dont have time sorry!!