We had a great apartment in Melbourne just off the South bank. The first full day, the Davis team explored the city. The day began with a run along the Yarra River, then a tram around the center city. We explore a few of the parks and crowds at the Victoria Market. We ate a terrible meal at HoppHouse with a great view of the river.
Day 20 was a jam packed journey to see the parade of penguins at Phillip Island. We picked up the rental car early and headed to moonlight nature reserve. Bryce was reunited with his Wallaby friends from Tasmania. He fed the kangaroos, chased ducks, and roared at the sleeping Koala bears… a good time was had by all. We stop in Tooradin for some fish and chips and to let the little man run around at the lighthouse playground. Fish and Chips always seems like a great idea when your hungry, but by mid afternoon you proclaim that you’ll never eat that again. Next stop was the Phillips Island Chocolate Factory. The little man ate chocolate so fast that he spit up on himself and we decided to go. We spent an hour on the beach and playground on Phillips Island and then headed to the main event… the parade of penguins at 9pm. We selected the underground seats so Bryce would have more space to run around before the penguins and then actually see them up close. At 9:02, he was approaching meltdown. By 9:05, the penguins arrived and he was on cloud nine as the little blue penguins marched past. His excitement and the look on his face when each round of penguins came ashore made me melt… an experience and a reaction that I’ll never forget. (we weren’t allowed to take pictures so to best I got was Bryce smiling at the stuffed example penguin)
Day 21-22 (Christmas): On 12/24, we returned to the chaos of Victoria market to buy an assortment of seafood and meats for the next two days. On the way, Bryce got to meet Santa. You cant see it from the picture, but Bryce kept yelling, “where is Hanukkah Harry?!?!” We then headed down to St. Kilda beach to celebrate Christmas Eve with people in bathing suites and Santa hats. Its odd having the holidays in the summer. On Christmas, we visited the aquarium (one of the few places open), returned to St. Kilda and then welcomed a new member to our traveling crew… Ali! Ali was hold up in LA for a few days but arrived just in time for the Christmas Seafood extravaganza.
