Thursday 22nd. St Kilda, the circular tram and a great food find

The weather today is forecast to be changeable and whilst it will still be warm at 26C, there will be showers some of which will be thundery.

Therefore, we decided to take the tram to St Kilda which is a seaside resort about 4 miles south of the city. A word in praise of the tram system in Melbourne which is efficient, on time and very well planned. Stops are organised so that after alighting from one tram, the stop for another in a different direction is only a few yards away. 

We only had a few hundred yards to walk to catch the number 96 to St Kilda beach. The journey was uneventful and we quickly arrived at St Kilda and whilst Ray had brought his swimming trucks, the thundery weather dissuaded him from swimming. I do think I heard the LLW muttering something about northern softies!

We wandered away from the sea front to a street lined with coffee houses and restaurants. The one we chose was named the Europa Cake shop which was apparently established by two Polish immigrants and specialises in Polish confectionery. There was a framed article on the wall about an 2019 Economist survey which had downgraded Melbourne from the most "livable" city in the world to number 2 (the throne being taken by Vienna). Two coffee shops featured in this article and one of them was the Europa. Whilst it was pleasant enough it was quite ordinary and certainly does not compare to the very elaborate and sumptuous coffee houses in Vienna.

Back in Melbourne we planned to use the circular tram route to travel all around the city. We decided to go anticlockwise but since that was showing a 30 minute wait, we quickly switched platforms to the clockwise route. All was going well until the tram stopped on part of the northern section  and the driver walked from the front of the tram to the rear and proceeded to travel back in the direction from whence we had come! The LLW was perplexed - what was he up to? He completed rather a long loop, arrived back at the aforementioned stop on the northern section, normal service was restored, and he resumed the clockwise route. 

Back then to the Intercontinental and the LLW once again decided that she needed to give her men some attention (Ray was alarmed to discover yesterday that her ardent followers now number over 40!).

Ray was sent off to walk around the city and not to return until he had some ideas about a venue for today's dinner. Cunningly, Ray already had a venue in mind and started his walk by visiting this venue to check it out. Having decided it was fine he caught the tram to Flinders Station and walked the full length of Swanston Street dodging the Christmas shoppers and often wobbly revellers.

As I came back towards the hotel, there were glimpses of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG a ground with a capacity of 100,000) and I make no apologies for including a photo from the 27th December 2010, when the LLW and I attended the MCG. England had bowled Australia out for 98 on Boxing Day, as we flew from Brisbane to Melbourne, and that evening we watched England reach 150 for no wicked at close, on the big screen in Flinders Square. As I hope you will be able to see from the scorecard, England had amassed 447 for 5 and the Australian supporters had given up and gone home. England won the test comfortably and we felt very lucky to have attended such a momentous day at the MCG.

Back to the hotel and when Ray announced that the dinner venue was to be Delhi Streets, I noted the LLW was somewhat underwhelmed. However, I persuaded her it looks good and had an excellent reputation so off we went to arrive at opening time as, apparently, it does become very busy. We were found a table and ordered quickly 

The LLW chose Butter Chicken and I had Chana Masala and a Vindaloo. Accompanied by rice and naan bread, the food was excellent and an absolute bargain. The place was buzzing with tables full of mainly young people, having a great time. The LLW declared it an inspired choice.

Tomorrow we fly to Sydney and the blog will resume then.