Strolling the Queen Vic Market and Watching Yawning Lions at the Zoo

Often I compare these journeys to eating tapas. There’s a little bit here, a taste of that there, and you never really settle into a groove because it’s time to go when that finally happens. This week in Melbourne has been splendid, and I must say that Oz is as fascinating and fun as I suspected it would be. That’s because I’ve met so many Australians in my travels and they are the reason that this a great place this is to visit. I got a chance to sit down with a travel editor at the Age, and a web marketing guy for Tourism Victoria. Both of them shared their insights and provided me with some details into the working business of travel here in Australia.

I had time after our two-hour stroll to the Queen Victoria Market, (the world’s largest) so I took the tram to the Melbourne Zoo. Most of the wild beasts were sleeping, but I did have fun watching the elephants take baths and caught some of the big cats in repose.

For my final night here I was joined again by Josh Oakes who brought along his lovely wife and business partner Sarah. We had dinner in a casual Italian place called Mario’s on Brunswick St, one where they go a lot on their own. It didn’t have the high priced menu that we’ve seen so often downtown. Oh, and they didn’t take credit cards.

Winding down in my giant hotel room, I did what a local Melbournian would do. I tuned into the footy game on the telly, and watched the Western Bulldogs come back and beat the Essendon Bombers in a live match from the Telstra Dome. Getting ready for a long ride home.