Grandma & Grandpa Niesen Travel to Australia
(Guest Blogged by Bob)
Grandparents Jake & Margaret, Uncle Bob and Aunt Corla arrived on the 25th of January after an adventurous and prolonged trip from Minnesota via Tokoyo and Sydney. We were met at the airport in Melbourne and brought to Jake & Jenny’s home in Balwyn. After settling in and relaxing the first evening, we set out the next day to share some of the local area with plans later in the day to head for Melbourne and some Australia Day celebrating. Jake & Jenny are a block off of the main street through Balwyn where their friends John the Butcher, Mel the Travel Agent, and Anthony the Wine Merchant reside. We also visited their local Bakery and Produce Market. The vast majority of the shops in the area are family owned businesses with the owners working the shops. What a delight!
After spending a couple of hours walking the local area, we headed for Melbourne to join in the Australia Day celebration. Australia Day is the celebration of independence for the country and the Melbourne area had many events planned for the day. Being only a block off the Tram route, the eight of us hopped on and headed into downtown Melbourne. We hopped off at Alexandra Park and began a mini-walkabout. Soon after entering the park, we came across a collection of exhibitors including a gold panning set-up, a pair of gymnast/acrobats, music and dance exhibitors, and several vendors. Our first endeavor was gold panning. After getting some instruction from the resident miners, we set about panning for gold. Everyone had a "go" at it, with Jake getting the nugget; a piece of gold about and 1/8" long and a 1/16" in diameter. The rest of us collected a few miniscule flakes! All totaled, we couldn't have bought a glass of water with our proceeds!
We then headed on to the Queen Victoria Gardens and the Kings Domain. We just missed an antique car show, but were able to enjoy the grounds and stopped to watch some folks pack up a children’s petting zoo. From there it was back to the city circle tram with the "Docklands" as our destination. Melbourne was host to a stop on the Volvo Great Ocean sailboat race, so we took in some of the harbour sights before beginning a quest for some supper. Back on the city circle tram, we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe-Melbourne, a couple of blocks from Nike Town, where we had an enjoyable meal. From there, it was back on the tram to Flinders Street to catch the fireworks display along the Yarra River. Wow, what a display! The fireworks weren't long like those in the States, but they were intense! A dramatic burst of intense color and sound from many locations along the park lighting up the entire stretch along the Yarra River.
Grandpa & Grandma Niesen and Aunt Corla at Harry's Cafe in Sydney
Grandpa & Grandma Niesen and Aunt Corla at the Sydney Opera House
The gang at the Docklands on Australia Day
Grandparents Jake & Margaret, Uncle Bob and Aunt Corla arrived on the 25th of January after an adventurous and prolonged trip from Minnesota via Tokoyo and Sydney. We were met at the airport in Melbourne and brought to Jake & Jenny’s home in Balwyn. After settling in and relaxing the first evening, we set out the next day to share some of the local area with plans later in the day to head for Melbourne and some Australia Day celebrating. Jake & Jenny are a block off of the main street through Balwyn where their friends John the Butcher, Mel the Travel Agent, and Anthony the Wine Merchant reside. We also visited their local Bakery and Produce Market. The vast majority of the shops in the area are family owned businesses with the owners working the shops. What a delight!
After spending a couple of hours walking the local area, we headed for Melbourne to join in the Australia Day celebration. Australia Day is the celebration of independence for the country and the Melbourne area had many events planned for the day. Being only a block off the Tram route, the eight of us hopped on and headed into downtown Melbourne. We hopped off at Alexandra Park and began a mini-walkabout. Soon after entering the park, we came across a collection of exhibitors including a gold panning set-up, a pair of gymnast/acrobats, music and dance exhibitors, and several vendors. Our first endeavor was gold panning. After getting some instruction from the resident miners, we set about panning for gold. Everyone had a "go" at it, with Jake getting the nugget; a piece of gold about and 1/8" long and a 1/16" in diameter. The rest of us collected a few miniscule flakes! All totaled, we couldn't have bought a glass of water with our proceeds!
We then headed on to the Queen Victoria Gardens and the Kings Domain. We just missed an antique car show, but were able to enjoy the grounds and stopped to watch some folks pack up a children’s petting zoo. From there it was back to the city circle tram with the "Docklands" as our destination. Melbourne was host to a stop on the Volvo Great Ocean sailboat race, so we took in some of the harbour sights before beginning a quest for some supper. Back on the city circle tram, we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe-Melbourne, a couple of blocks from Nike Town, where we had an enjoyable meal. From there, it was back on the tram to Flinders Street to catch the fireworks display along the Yarra River. Wow, what a display! The fireworks weren't long like those in the States, but they were intense! A dramatic burst of intense color and sound from many locations along the park lighting up the entire stretch along the Yarra River.
Grandpa & Grandma Niesen and Aunt Corla at Harry's Cafe in Sydney
Grandpa & Grandma Niesen and Aunt Corla at the Sydney Opera House
The gang at the Docklands on Australia Day
posted by jjniesen at 5:49 AM
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