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Melbourne, Australia
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A little word about BINGO. A few days ago, during
a sea day, we decided to get some tea
in one of the lounges after a particularly grueling session of email.
As it so happened we stumbled onto the daily BINGO game in one of the
lounges. At Donna's request we purchased 4 cards for $6.00 each. Donna
had never played bingo before so I had to explain the rules. I got off
on this explaining thing. It's a macho guy thing. We were now amongst
the 50 or so hard core daily players. One look at the crowd and it was
obvious that many of the players had decades of competition under their
belts. Clearly there were several ringers present, but I said nothing
Knowing our fate was now in Donna's hands. There was no doubt we were
among a group of hard core high seas gambling sharks. Donna put her
game face on and the games began. There were 4 games played.... Donna
won two.... She won more than $160. She turned out to be a very competitive
player and I must say, well coached. The mob, however turned ugly. They
initially wanted to have her tested for steroids but I was able to negotiate
a ban for life with the commissioner. Actually There were some who wanted
to take Donna directly to the casino. Donna's now attending BINGO anonymous
lectures and is enrolling next week in the associated 12 step program.
She has slipped back once but her doctors are hopeful.
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| The salmon which was
procured in Tasmania was extraordinary. During lunch they grilled it with
4 different marinades. The chef said it was the world's best because of
the lack of pollution in the southern ocean's waters. After several pieces
I thought that there may be something to this pollution thing after all. |
The seas calmed as we approached
Melbourne. |
The Stephenson's our companions for
another lovely dinner the night before arriving in Melbourne. |
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| The British
influence was everywhere. |
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| The city is undergoing
a massive building program .There were more than 15 large projects underway,
like this one, in the downtown area alone. |
Melbourne is Australia's second largest
city. It is a very busy ethnically diverse multicultural place. The extent
of it's multicultural heritage is noteworthy, including the fact that
it has the largest Greek population outside of Greece in the world. |
Donna really got into that multicultural
thing. |
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| We found a nice little
Italian restaurant on the edge of the downtown district. Can you see the
heaters above the tables. They lit them for Donna. By the way it's summer
here now and it was noon on a sunny day. Get the picture about the climate? |
Yep us again!!! |
They have a wonderful tram system,
some of which routes were free of charge. |
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| Like New
Zealand there is not one piece of litter in the entire city. As if that
was not civilized enough, no one J-walks. Everyone you see in the street
in the picture above (on the right) is from our ship. No kidding!!! We
really know how to ruin the neighborhood!!! |