Didn’t sleep well, a combination of the unfamiliar bed and anxiety over the potential of yet another flight cancellation.
We had an alarm call set for 04:00 but I set my phone alarm for 03:55 just in case.
Woke up, shower, out into the cold and dark and hopped onto the shuttle bus. Checked in, told them the woman yesterday said we would be given breakfast vouchers (she didn’t, but I wanted to see if I could score some more). Got another 2 $8 vouchers, Take that, Jetstar.
Through security, 2 bacon and egg McMuffins later, watching the departures board like a hawk just in case it was cancelled again, but finally got the boarding gate.
Very short flight, they said it was full but there was a row of empty seats behind us so I hopped into that and tried to sleep but didn’t manage it. Stepped off the plane into a cold, drizzly grey morning, 10C – apparently Melbourne was going to be 22C and sunny.
Through to the baggage pick up (we only have hand luggage), and met up with our travelling companion, the friend of the daughter of a friend of Song’s (got that?) who is studying medicine in Sydney who we know very well, she used to live in Melbourne. Her name is Victoria.
Got a taxi to the apartment where we are staying, opened the door and wow. Song booked an amazing place. Just next to the wharf, a 2-bed, 2-bath apartment with a huge lounge and dining room with a laundry.
Made a cup of tea and then headed out to the Salamanca Market, and JB Hi Fi because I forgot to pack a connector to download my TV shows to my Mac.
Weather was cold and overcast, down coats were needed. The market was about a 10 minute walk away, and on the way we saw a cruise ship docked, the SS Covid Incubator (actually the Queen Elizabeth).
The market was packed, obviously people off the ship as well as other tourists like us.
I asked one couple if they were off the boat, they said yes so I asked where they were from – “Melbourne”. Oh. I asked where they were going after Tasmania. “Melbourne”. Adventurous travellers.
I followed Song and Victoria through the crowd, occasionally stopping to present my backpack for them to load up their purchases. By the end of the market I felt like a pack mule.
Went back to the room to dump the stuff, picked up a lobster, some scallops and prawns for dinner on the way and then googled for somewhere to eat lunch, couldn’t really find anywhere that looked decent so Song suggested a sausage from the market, which we did.
We’d earlier booked a trip to Richmond, an old town that just about everyone visits, so after lunch jumped on the bus.
Took about 20 minutes to Richmond, the bus driver telling bad jokes as they do. Stopped off at the oldest bridge in Australia and the oldest Catholic Church nearby.
Back to the main town where the bus parked for a couple of hours to let us wander.
Rain held off, Song and Victoria went into every antique shop in Richmond while I waited outside, nearly falling asleep a couple of times, the early start catching up with me.
Stopped off to have a scone and cup of earl grey tea at a cafe before heading back to the bus and back to the apartment.
Realised we needed something to go with the seafood so walked to the grocers and grabbed some salad stuff, then popped into the place where we’d booked a trip to Bruny Island tomorrow to check on the details. They said we should have breakfast because they don’t serve anything till 10:30, so walked back to the grocer to get some bread and Vegemite for toast.
Had dinner, and had an early night – Victoria had been up since 03:00, we had been up since 04:00 and we were all pretty tired.
Another early start tomorrow, we have to be at the trip place for 07:00, but luckily it’s only a 5 minute walk.
