Melbourne

Today we have a bit of a change, Jessica is writing the blog while Marcee posts pictures, which are below on the page. We have missed a few days updating everyone. Monday was a beach day for us. We laid out on the beach in St. Kilda and then for dinner had the best fish and chips we have ever tasted. Basically after eating it, we wanted another entire meal but the fried fish and french fries tend to add on the pounds! It was fresh fish from market fried right on the spot (see picture). After dinner we played some trivia in the bar at the hostel. We didn't know about 75% of the answers but tried none the less. During the night, I woke up and in my state of delirium thought that were was an announcement being made outside our hostel saying, "There has been a murder, please evacuate the area" and there after, sirens. Clearly, I was the only person hearing this, and the next morning asked Marcee if she had heard it or if anyone else had. No one had, so no need to worry, I was just groggy/crazy!

Tuesday we decided to take a tram into the city center of Melbourne and see a few sites. We started our day at the Old Melbourne Gaol. A jail that closed it doors in 1994 but hosted one of Australia's most infamous criminals Ned Kelly. We toured the jail which was very interesting, "got locked up" and were able to watch a mock trial of Ned Kelly (picture: my mug shot). After the jail, we went to the Queen Victoria Market which has anything and everything you could ever want to buy. Marcee was quite overwhelmed with the massive amount of produce and fresh foods present (see picture). Next the Eureka skydeck on the 88th floor. This building is the tallest residential building in the world, is plated with 24 karat gold on the top and is the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere. It was a great view of the city (a picture included).

Tuesday night deserves its own paragraph, as this was the night we saw the Avett Brothers in the Prince Bandroom in Fitzroy (an area of Melbourne). Marcee was in heaven and I was as well. The show was phenomenal maybe because we were on the FRONT row, as in we could touch them, or maybe because they are absolutely amazing, dreamy, we want to marry them, but they are taken, or incredibly talented. They each play multiple instruments and during the show switch between the piano, drums, guitar, banjo, and at times simultaneously play more than one instrument (for example, base drum and banjo). Also, they both sing like angels! (So because we obsessed, there are many pictures posted that further explain what I am trying to say).

Wednesday we checked out of our hostel in St. Kilda and came into the city center again. We went to the Melbourne Aquarium, which of course, I LOVED! I think I may have missed my calling in life. Then we went to the Australian Center for the Moving Image in Federation Square, where we made a flip book of ourselves. Yes, you will have to come visit us to view the book once we are back in the states. This museum had works by Dennis Hopper and about screenworks. Tonight, we take an overnight train to Sydney, which will be Marcee's first train ride. There is much more diversity here than in Bells Beach. Not so many skinny jeans and tights. We are truly enjoying Melbourne.