The weather started
gloomy and the dark clouds promised rain as we headed off to the city. Today I
had a companion, my sister Wendy, another soul in need of mystery adventures.
The Docklands was our
destination, and sometimes you just have to plan ahead to know what tram to
take or how much walking is involved. I guess my mystery trips are not as
mysterious as I had originally planned.
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| Melbourne Star |
We hopped on to the no.70
tram after a quick dash to catch it, (we waited at the wrong stop - although in
our defence, the sign did state it stopped there.)
First stop
"Melbourne Star'.
In its early days, when the wheel was having
major problems, I vowed I would never, ever go on it and here I was about to
board the ride.
Following directions
and finding some very helpful staff along the way, we made our way up to where
you enter the cabin. Although the journey to the cabin is not complete without
passing the smiling photographer who urges you to pose for photos, a special
record of your trip.
My sister and I had the
cabin to ourselves and learnt that you have to move reasonable quick to board
the moving cabin and being ever watchful of the tiny little step as you do. An
important point suggested by another lovely, smiling staff member.
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| Compass on ceiling |
Safely on,
our journey began. Slowly moving out and then upward. A voice overhead tells you about your map and to
check out the compass on the ceiling- a guide to let you know where various
locations are. So we get out the map, turn it, check and turn it again. Content
that we finally have it right we glance out the window at our lovely view.
As the cabin rose
higher my ability to stand close to the window slowly diminished, much to my
sister's amusement, who managed the height issue brilliantly.
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| . . . and the rain came. |
Droplets of water
blurred our view, but we were not disheartened as the effect added to the
interest. As the clouds moved on, streams of light shone down over sections of
the city creating a glorious glow, a lovely contrast against their shadowed
neighboring buildings.
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| We made a friend |
The top reached and as
we started rolling downhill we became level with the cabin before us. To our
delight a young boy sat by the window and was waving to us. A photo
opportunity not to be missed and we waved back putting a smile on his little
face.
Feet on the ground and we had to weave our way through a maze of
tunnels to find the exit. Passing through the inevitable souvenir shop and almost
at the door when we were greeted by a
young fellow, smiling of course, who reminded us of our earlier photo shoot.
For a bargain price of $40 you can have a booklet with your photos in, thus costing
more than the actual ride itself.
We passed on the offer
and went off to grab some lunch, a kids serving of fish 'n chips.
This was not because we
couldn't afford an adult size, or that we couldn't manage to eat it, but purely
because the adult size was not available and that's what we wanted to eat.
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| Reflections on the Marina |
On the tram and back to
Flinders Street Station, a quick visit to photograph more buildings in the area, an iced coffee and
then train home again.
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| Me |
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