One year ago, as J and I found out about our Australian opportunity, my folks coincidentally booked a cruise to none other than...Australia. Fast forward to February 2011. Mo, J, Tadd, and Elle arrive in Melbourne. Four days later, we have our first visitors. (Due to visa delays, we actually almost missed them and may have flown in one day after their Melbourne port stop. Shwoo!) As the cruise ship was at dock, Ma and Pa Kolster explored the city with us for nine wonderful hours.
Nana, who is late to everything, was one of the first persons off the ship (along with Opa, who is never late....unless with Nana :) ).
Elle awaits for Nana and Opa at Federation Square.
Whhooooo hoooooo! With no parking at the dock, we arranged an alternative meeting site, which involved trams (Nana and Opa) and Yoda (our GPS guide for our rental car). "Turn left you must," said Yoda. Luckily, both steered us to the right place.
Besides bird-watching, Tadd has become our photographer.
After a free tourist bus shuttle through the city and a walk and lunch along the Yarra River.....
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| J, Elle, & Opa walking along the Yarra River |
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| Downtown Melbourne |
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| Evidence of a Yummy Lunch |
we caught a train to the Melbourne Zoo.
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| Echidna |
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| Tadd, Opa, and Elle walking in the zoo |
The last half hour was pretty hard. As much as I tried to enjoy every minute, the tears streamed from my face as we trained back to the port. And finally, it was time to say, "See you later." As Nana and Opa walked down the pier, J joked that they had come all this way so that they were the ones saying goodbye to us. (Not the other way around.) Home was leaving, and we were about to start our Australian adventure.....
