Eureka! Skydeck at 88 stories.

This is the tallest residential building.  We went up 88 stories in less than 30 seconds.   You didn't even feel like an elevator bump.  When we got off the elevator and walked into the top floor of all windows it was unbelievably beautiful.  In every direction there was an incredible view. 

Doing the Town...

Or the Clampett's come to the city.  My boss, the CEO set us up at the Marriott downtown for the last 2 nights. He gave us cab money and said, "Don't waste your days off waiting for the shuttle, take a cab first thing in the morning, and go out to dinner to a really nice restaurant and expense it on the company."  Just the hotel was pretty swanky.  We had to figure out how to get the elevator to work...insert room key.  Then we couldn't turn on any lights or TV in our room... insert room key. The bed was deluxe...

There were ROBES!

 The bathroom was even deluxe.  And the closet had lights that went on when you opened the door. We were living the high life.  For real, we were up about 3 floors, then up to the 9th floor for "Tea" and breakfast and "Canapes" or dessert, and to use the internet.  It was extra to have internet access in our room.  Our room already cost $289.00 a night! I have no complaints, we were treated very well. My boss took very good care of us.  He made all of our travel arrangements and hotels and paid for great dinners when we all went out.

Jerry took me to see all the sights, the city, the river, the docklands, malls, old buildings, new and tall.  Really tall...

Tea Time is a Good Tradition

We  moved to a new hotel where Handi Quilter Dealers came for training and lots of food.  Tea Time is great.  Better than lunch and breakfast.  It was warm ham and cheese croissants one morning and all kinds of cupcakes for afternoon tea...red velvet, carrot cake, chocolate with cream cheese frosting. YUM!  And of course beverages. Dinners here were fantastic too.  One night was a buffet with prawns, lamb, steak... more than I can remember.

This was right outside our room. Palm trees.  This is where we saw all of the cocatus.  It was fall and the leaves were turning and falling off the trees but these palm trees and pool were very inviting.

But I ended up spending most of MY time with these guys.  Some old friends, some new.  We had a great time working with them and lots of laughs after hours with them.

This is Glen and Kathi Salter, she used to be an educator and trained me when I first started renting and learning to quilt. Glen is her husband  works there still. She and he taught some classes and also helped in my classes. 

Jerry doing the town

Our hotel was on Lygon street, a street known for all of the sidewalk cafes.  Every night we strolled the sidewalk and searched the menues for what sounded good.   We  tried lamb, salmon, and prawns and souvlaki. Food was expensive and different.  We had a breakfast buffet in every place we stayed.
My only complaint was runny scramled eggs and not so good sausage. And they love vegemite on toast but us?  Not so much!

Jerry spent some time at the docks.  He had a great time talking with the locals.... partly just to hear their accent. Partly just to pass time and he likes to talk to people.

These guys were using real long poles with no reels. They'd just swing their pole onto the dock.

Lots happening on the river too.

 There were free tourist shuttles that went all around the city to about 15 top spots.  You could get on and off all over.  This trolley car also went through the city making stops a lot closer.

Federation Square had thousands of people. It was the train station.

Quilt Show, Old Friends, New Friends

The quilt show was in this amazing exhibition hall.  It was a beautiful building.

The quilt show was pretty much just like our quilt shows... and I did have to work. 

Michelle is a store rep from Perth.  She came to the states last year and we had a great time teasing each other about how we talk. She's the one who talked Jerry into the Kangaroo steak.  She gave me lots of advice and encouragment for the classes I had to teach.

This is Helen Godden.  An amazing Australian quilter that we met there and spent the week having a great time with.  She and Michelle together  make for a lot of laughs.

This is Helen's quilt, Seasonal Sisters tht she made with a couple of other quilters.

This bird was her entry in the Best of Australia.  She was chosen Best of State for this quilt and we all went to the big Formal Celebration where the winner was announced to cheer for her , but a more traditional quilt won. 

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

We saw this fountain from a long way off and it drew us into the park.  The flowers, green everywhere, huge trees and this old building.  All beautiful.  I took a ton of pictures and  then as we were leaving I made the connection.  This was just up the street from our hotel.  It had to be where the quilt show was. 

There were spider plants all around this flower bed... the kind I am trying to keep alive in a pot inside my house. 

Gardens surrounded the building but the parking lots were no where close. The entrance was on the far side of the building but it didn't keep people from coming

Victoria Market

We checked into our hotel right downtown on Lygon street and went shopping at Victoria Market. First stop was for huge grapes and they were so sweet.  There were blocks and blocks of fruit and veges, then aisles and aisles of meat.  Then Deli...

It was like three Pike's Markets.

And it had all kinds of souvenirs, clothes, shoes, toys, purses, food, jewelry, you name it. It was for sale.

This crocodile was not for sale, but show and tell.

Back for more grapes, and I tried a banana just to see if it tasted like ours.   Just like. 

There was something for me.... lots of fresh flowers.

 And even something for Jerry.  Which we found a spot and listened and enjoyed the view, the sunshine and watching people.

Jerry in his hat, me taking pictures on every corner, do you think anyone could tell we were tourists? Everywhere you looked was different and beautiful.