We flew from Cairns to Melbourne Friday afternoon. Melbourne is where Stavros' family lives. We arrived too late in the evening to connect with any of them so we walked a few blocks fom our hotel (another Ibis, though MUCH nicer) to the strip of Little Bourke Street called Chinatown for dinner. We ended up in the Orchids Garden Restaurant where we couldn't even reach for a serving spoon without a flock of waitresses swooping in to serve us. The service was phenomenal, and the food was extremely good. We later learned that we happened on one of the better chinese restaurants to dine.

Saturday started with a breakfast in a step-down establishment 2 doors from the hotel, the Base Café and Grill. The inexpensive yet generous breakfast was good, and this place became the starting point for our day for most of our stay in Melbourne.

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (41 KB) One of the govenment buildings downtown

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (44 KB) Taking pictures (again)

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (13 KB) Hmmm, only in Melbourne would you go to the far LEFT lane in order to turn RIGHT. Go figure.

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (52 KB) Queen Victoria Market. This market only happens on weekends

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (58 KB) Queen Victoria Market

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (47 KB) Queen Victoria Market

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (37 KB) Tom samples some wines at the Queen Victoria Market to bring to dinner at cousins house tonight

Saturday, 19 April 2003 - (39 KB) Stavros' cousin Sol picks us up to go to dinner at his house - and we stop by Brunetti's Café for a cup of coffee en route

Click here for family pictures of this evening