Our patient and long term travel companions from down south thought it might be fun to have a little trip over to Adelaide.

Beginning in Melbourne of course.

Via the Great Ocean Road.

So that’s what we are doing.

Coincidentally, I already had one of my regular trips home the few days before.

I say coincidentally, but probably more like it was organised around my timing.

Thanks guys!

Being the Aussie, the planning was on me.

Not always a good idea…….

Anyho, I met MoD, Doug and Annabel in Melbourne on a beautiful sunny autumn Tuesday.

MoD was lucky enough to see Melbourne from that aspect having flown in that morning.

Doug and Annabel, well not so lucky.

They flew in that night, by which time it had started to drizzle.

The next day, Wednesday, I had big plans and high hopes to cycle around the city.

The four of us had done it once before and it was pretty cool. 

My expectations needed significant lowering. 

The rain did not stop until the afternoon.

Sadly, we had to wander the city instead.

And shop.

I say sadly, because my suitcase really can’t fit another thing in.

Except those blue suede shoes that I didn’t need.

But it’s not about need. As you all know.

We did manage a cake break at Brunetti’s, just near Degraves Street.

Brunetti’s is a total must. Whether in Myer, Lygon Street or Flinders Lane.

That night we had tickets for the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala opening night at The Palais in St. Kilda.

Something I have always wanted to see.

One might say a bucket list item.

If you had a bucket list.

Which I don’t. But anytime I think I want to do something I spout it’s been on my (imaginary) bucket list.

This was on…..that.

We were staying in Lonsdale Street, just down from Spring Street at the Oaks.

Our rooms were co-joined, one having a full kitchen and dining and the other a kitchenette.

Not too bad pricing, I expect due to booking early.

After all Melbourne is in Grand Prix week and starting to heat up.

Late afternoon, we picked up the No. 96 Tram from our corner which took us right through to St Kilda.

It does go outside the Free Tram Zone but for once we were all miki’d up and actually tapped on when we left the free zone. 

I would admit to not always doing that and playing the ‘I am from the country’ card.

Bad tourist. 

For dinner I had booked us into Replubica on St. Kilda beach for an early sitting.

Nice little spot, good pricing, delicious food and lovely staff.

Getting across The Esplanade from the tram drop off (yes I got us off a little early), was ferken freezing.

That good old St. Kilda ‘breeze’.

Rain and every so often bursts of sunshine. Enough sunshine for MoD to think it was a great time to steal my phone and take a few selfies I didn’t know about until I went to upload to this post………. 

Oh MoD.

Anyway, The Palais is a gorgeous old theatre right in the heart of the suburb, next to Luna Park.

If you haven’t been, make sure you find an event and go. 

We had fairly reasonable tickets in the stalls.

Which is handy at my age, I could basically see and hear the show quite well.

To be fair, anywhere in the stalls is ok in that theatre.

I was lucky enough to get the added bonus of the laughing snorter behind me.

Which at times caused me more laughter than some of the show.

I guess I wasn’t disappointed by the show.

But I wasn’t blown away.

I think I am getting old.

I mean, it used to be, that the comedians would get onstage and talk about, well you know, mundane, everyday things.

That with their spin, became hilarious. 

There were a couple who did that.

Dave Hughes, fellow Aussie, lives in St. Kilda somewhere. 

He was pretty funny with his wise words about the Melbourne Eye.

The guy at the end, name escapes me, who joked about caffeine.

I had an idea in my head that Kitty Flannigan was part of the line up.

She would have joked about funny stuff, like, I dunno, menopause.

Seems not. Even though she was advertised when I booked……

The comediennes all had an agenda about gender.

It’s a shame it has to be that way, truly.

If everyone just accepted the way other people are, it wouldn’t have to be a big deal.

Just my thoughts.

Anyway, we did enjoy the show and were glad to have experienced it.

Afterwards we headed off into the by now, very cold Melbourne night, to hop the 96 and head back into town.

Tomorrow, we were due to pick up the car and head to Warrnambool.

Or The Bool as MoD calls it. He calls Melbourne Melby.

No MoD.

WE DO NOT CALL Melbourne MELBY. Nope.

We were heading to the ‘Bool’ via Geelong (Dougs great grandmother’s old home) and The Great Ocean Road.

Potentially better weather. 

Before I go, here are some images of my favourite city in the world – not counting New York.

I do love Melbourne.