Melbourne Skyline shot from the top of the Shrine of Remembrance:
Australia facts:
Until 1901 Australia was made of separate countries. At that time they were united and the government sat in Melbourne. However, Melbourne and Sydney fought for years over which city should be the capital, and thus neither city received that honor. The capital is Canberra which is directly between the two!
Opal:
Our first stop in Melbourne was to Altman & Cherny a famous Opal manufacturer and jewelry company. There we saw the world’s largest opal which is worth over $2 million. Eric bought me a slightly smaller one! We learned there are 3 different kinds of opals – fire stone which is white and sparkly [this is what Jess got], black opal which is actually not black at all but full of vibrant colors, and boulder which is light or dark and usually cut in a more rough shape. Ironically, very few people who dig or mine opals ever make it big!
Church/Fountain:
We then stopped by St. Thomas Cathedral, which is the largest in Australia. It is similarly modeled to that of St. Peter’s Cathedral in NYC. Our favorite thing about the church was actually the fountains surrounding it. These fountains were not only beautiful, but they had touching verses written around them.
Shrine of Remembrance:
This shrine was created after World War I, during which ANZAC (The Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) fought alongside the British. Throughout the battle they took many casualties, and lots of soldiers were never returned to their country. As a way to remember these fallen soldiers this shrine was created and has since been expanded to honor other soldiers who fought in further battles. From this point ANZAC vowed they would never blindly follow Britain into another war again.
Tram Lunch:
For lunch we caught a restaurant tram car through the city. From the decor and the food, one would think the place was a 5 star restaurant with its velvet seats, hanging lights and exquisite cuisine. On the cart we were served by a true Italian who kept us entertained by singing Frank Sinatra. Grandma Holden you would have loved him! We were served an entrée of tasty kangaroo steaks. (P.S. we learned that in America we are actually incorrect in calling a main course an entrée because it actually means starter) Our meals consisted of delicious chicken and beef fillet. We were then served tea and an assortment of Australian cheeses, crackers, and dried fruits and nuts. By far the BEST meal we’ve had on the trip!
Phillip Island – Penguin Parade:
As an excursion we traveled out around sunset to Phillip Island which is off the southern coast of mainland Australia. The sand dunes that cover the island are home to the world’s smallest penguin. These little penguins are full grown after just 8 weeks at an average of 32 centimeters in height. Just after sunset, every night, no matter what the weather, 365 days a year these little guys travel in from the sea across the beach and up the dunes to their homes. We walked down to the beach where we watched them swim in, wait for a few friends to arrive, and then waddle precariously up the beach. The scene was a riot! At times the little guys would get scared because of a bird’s shadow overhead and suddenly the whole pack of them would scurry back into the water. The reason they travel in at night is to protect themselves against their main predator – large flying birds. Today foxes, dogs, and cats have been introduced to their environment, thus endangering them more. Environmentalists are trying to keep these creatures at bay though, to protect the little penguins. After reaching the sand dunes we watched them waddle through little trails to their homes where they met mates and family with loud calls and pruned themselves. They also reactivated the oil glands in their tails to ensure their feathers would be water proof for their next day’s travels. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take pictures, but we did buy some and we’ll be happy to show you when we get back!
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