Melbourne Sightseeing 6th Jan

After a slightly tipsy evening last night, I offered to do some very healthy early morning exercise with the Coles.  So I promptly got up at 7am, got quietly dressed in the dark and snuck out the hotel room and headed three houses down to their house, eagerly awaiting my borrowed bike for the day and the promise to burn off some of the wine calories I had earned at the same location the night before!

I think I surprised them a little as the weather was a little brisk and I suspect that going on past experience they didn't think any member of the Tierney family could appear before 9am!   However after a swift cup of tea, Steph bravely handed me her fabulous bike, Steph jumped on James's racer and James grabbed Felix's skateboard for some coastal path exercise.

James stayed with us for the first few Kilometers, then headed back to do some work, leaving Steph and I to have a good old catch up a well deserved cappuccino at the 5k half way cafe point at St Kilda, a very boho area of the city and a very popular spot with backpackers.

We then returned to the house to complete the 10k ride, a great way so start the day!   I went back to the hotel to discover my family still chilling out in bed and we had all managed to miss breakfast!  We went to The Coles, picked up their kids and went to a really cool diner down the road for some brunch & milkshakes.   James & Steph joined us shortly afterwards - Steph only for a couple of minutes as she was due at work!

We then caught the train to Melbourne for a day of gratuitous sightseeing with our guides James, Immy & Felix & what a great City it is.   Much less of a tourist feel than Sydney, lots of interesting architecture - lots of little shopping streets with a real boho vibe.

To help us get our bearings, we went up the Eureka Skydeck - the building with the red mark on the side, and went up 88 floors to the viewing platform.

The views were amazing, they had a glass box with glass floor which you could go in, which mechanically moves to hang outside the building..... We weren't brave enough for that one!

Crossing back over the river to the main city area, the bridge there had loads of padlocks with people's names on.  James told us that 'lovers' go to the bridge to lock a padlock to the railings and keep a key each as a sign of their love..... Lots of people in love in Melbourne apparently!!  but quite beautiful....

We then went for a much needed beer, cider and some lunch in this lovely little cafe in one of the little undercover streets in the city.  

Lots of chocolate shops in Melbourne, so after some tasting and some purchasing, we went for a wander round.  There was some great live music & a really relaxed atmosphere... Very chilled, we loved it!

We then picked up the hire car and headed back to the hotel for another great BBQ evening with the Coles & sad goodbyes :(   xxxxxx