The Great Escape

Heading back from Melbourne to Birmingham – what could go wrong?! Well I nearly failed at the first hurdle. Leaving my accommodation at 2:15am all seemed straightforward as I quietly headed out of the apartment and got the lift down to reception ready for the pre-booked taxi. Then the adventure started – with a heavy case in tow, it seemed logical to use the disabled platform lift to take me and my bag down the last flight of steps to the lobby area.

An example of the problem lift!

It all seemed very straightforward – open door, enter platform lift, close door, push button and descend to ground floor. Except …. nothing happened … and worse than that, the door had locked and despite my best efforts it was not going to budge. So, imagine the scene, my bag and I trapped in the lift, and the taxi due to arrive shortly (and the flight to the UK due to leave in 3 hours!).

There was definitely a moment of panic, as I realised I was stuck in the lift and the clock was ticking for my lift to the airport. A quick regroup and I knew I needed to get myself out of the lift – the height of which at chest level was too high for an easy exit!  Saved by a chair outside the lift which I could just about reach to drag over – climbing on my suitcase it provided enough height to be able to climb over safely to the other side. The only remaining problem was my 23kg bag still stuck in the lift which although I could just about reach, I couldn’t manage to lift out.

Easy I hear you say, pop out to the taxi driver and get him to help – except for the fact that if I left the building, I had no means of re-entering! There then followed a comical few minutes when the taxi arrived on the other side of the street – me signalling to him, and he thinking I was waving! Eventually a call to the taxi company – they rang the driver and he came in to rescue me and my bag. So the moral of the story – avoid platform lifts at all costs, and I left Australia wondering if I had been caught on ‘You’ve been Framed!’

Meandering in Melbourne

With Australia in the grip of devastating forest fires, I wasn’t too sure what would be waiting for me having arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Perth. Other than a slightly acrid smell in the air on arrival, and an intermittent smog it was business as usual – some torrential rain on the 2^nd day, whilst uncharacteristic for the season was much needed for those fires. A free walking tour was a fantastic way to see around the City, as our guide Tom took us through the streets and alleyways of the city – interspersing historical and cultural insights with tourist tips. As we explored the lane ways, we took in the street art of Melbourne – and learnt the etiquette that means that it can only be painted over if the quality will be better!

Tour complete, we knew the sites to go back and explore further – and it’s always a good day when you go to visit somewhere and it takes you by surprise by what lies behind the doors. The reading room of the State Library was stunning – and almost made me want to be a student again! 

Reading Room, State Library

Heading off to the Shrine of Remembrance I naively thought that it would be like a war memorial in the UK. How wrong I was?! Originally built to commemorate the men and women of Victoria who had served in WW1, it now serves to commemorate all Australians who have served in any War. It forms an iconic landmark and it is impossible not to be moved walking through the various galleries of remembrance and taking in the views across the City.

Shrine of Remembrance

Speaking of views, standing on the South Bank and looking out over the Swan River is one of the picture postcard views of the City!

Swan River

Melbourne has is known for its coffee and foodie culture – and there was no shortage of eateries to enjoy.

Rice Paper Scissors and Mamasita were two restaurant recommendations which I thoroughly enjoyed – it was just a shame I wasn’t there longer to enjoy more of the food scene. Like Adelaide, and Fremantle, Queen Victoria Food market didn’t disappoint and a foodie tour ensured we got to sample the very best.

Sampling cheese in Queen Victoria Market

A highlight on the food scene was stumbling across a live shoot of MasterChef Australia and finding ourselves on the front row of filming!

MasterChef Australia

One of the ‘must do’ day trips away from Melbourne is the Great Ocean Road Tour – a very long day but the views of ‘The Apostles’ (impressive rock stacks off the coast) were stunning – albeit incredibly windy!

The 12 Apostles

Melbourne will stick in my memory for being the place that I completed my personal Grand Slam of the tennis circuit, at the Australian Open – two days of tennis, together with an evening session continuing to midnight and almost later into the night – I was in my happy place!

The Grand Slam complete!

Foodie Freedom in Fremantle

If it’s one thing that the Aussies do well – it’s food markets! Finding myself in Fremantle for the second time in 6 months, the decision over where to go for lunch was an easy one. The website for Fremantle Market boasts “Listen carefully and you might just hear the horse and carts of yesteryear.” Yesteryear may take a little imagination – but it’s a tour through several continents in the space of just a couple of aisles, laden with an array foods and aromas to draw you in. Ironically with so much choice, I was still drawn back to ‘What the Bao!’ – Asian fusion food at its best, as I discovered on my first visit!

Fremantle Food Market

Less than 1km from the markets is a very different place – Fremantle Prison. Stepping into the reception area of the main cell block, a guide disguised as a prison officer, took us through the ‘Behind Bars Tour’ In 2010 the prison was the first building in Western Australia to be listed on the World Heritage List. Visitors of one kind or another have been welcomed since 1850, but it wasn’t until 1992 that guests paid to go by choice to have a look around! When you learn that the prison was home to convicts, colonial prisoners, prisoners of war and maximum-security detainees, you know you are standing on a piece of history. Add to that the fact that it still was home to prisoners up until 1991, in very basic conditions was a sobering thought.

Fremantle Prison

One word of caution – nothing is held back in the vivid descriptions provided in the execution chamber, and it’s not for the feint hearted. Post tour recovery ice creams in the Convict Café were the order of the day – if an excuse was ever needed!