THE MAINLAND

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We began our explorations in Melbourne.  We likened it to Chicago in many ways.  It’s vibrant and exciting with lots of activities (theatre, casino, sporting venues, restaurants, etc.)  It is similar to it’s sister city, Sydney, in offering these amenities but the setting is a bit more affordable and relaxed.  Melbourne has a great free tram in the Central Business District (used by both locals & tourists) to explore this compact city.  Highlights of our visit included strolling through Victoria Market, a huge complex of vendors selling fresh foods and flowers.  Talk about the seafood!  We also toured the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail) and heard some creepy stories of Melbourne’s early scoundrels.  Another highlight was a fabulous Mongolian BBQ in Chinatown.

We then flew to the island state of Tasmania (see details under that heading) before we began our next explorations on the mainland - Queensland and Canberra via car.  Our first tourist stop was in Eden at its whaling museum.  Very interesting and informative.  From there, we drove to Canberra, Australia’s city/capitol state (like Washington, D.C.).  The city is beautiful in its design and layout.  We thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the National Parliament which houses both the House & Senate.  We also toured the National Capital Exhibition.  We were very moved by the Australian War Memorial.  It was especially poignant when a man in kilt with bagpipe played an equivalent of taps at dusk.

We next headed into the bush and the town of Mildura, some 785 KM from Canberra (in other words, a long drive).  Lindy actually did some driving (on the left) here as there was virtually no one else on the road.  It was somewhat like being in West Texas, even down to the dust and cattle.  However, you don’t see kangaroos near Monahans, Texas.

Being the wine lovers we are, a stop at the Barossa Valley was a must & boy was it terrific!  We enjoyed some wonderful Shiraz at the Stanley Brothers winery, a new vineyard for us, as well as some great stuff at old favorites like Lindeman’s & Penfolds & Wolff Blass.  We also enjoyed some outstanding ports (how about a chocolate port – yummy!).

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0220a_Canberra_Capitol Hill.jpg (54837 bytes) Capitol Hill in Canberra
0220b_Canberra_Parliament Bldg Large Web view.jpg (63726 bytes) Parliament Building in Canberra
0220h_War Memorial from Outside.jpg (69544 bytes) Australia's War Memorial
0221a_Sign Canberra to Mildura.jpg (93430 bytes) How often do you see this road sign??
0222j_Barossa Valley.jpg (108066 bytes) A view along the road in the
Barossa Valley wine country
0222b_Yalumba Winery.jpg (106065 bytes) Yalumba Winery
0222d_Ed holding grapes.jpg (140669 bytes) Ed holding a cluster of grapes
0222e_Parrots on Fountain.jpg (143158 bytes) Wild parrots drinking on the fountain
in a winery garden
0224a_Aldinga, SA enroute to Victor Harbor.jpg (68446 bytes) A view along the coast near
Aldinga, South Australia