Alice Springs to Melbourne Oct 2, 2009

The trip, from Alice Springs in the Outback to Melbourne on the coast, was one of significant contrasts. We started the morning in Alice Springs standing near the mighty Todd River (it’s that brown dry area with the trees growing up in it behind us).

We had spent the night in one of these cabins. By the middle of the morning we were on our way to the airport. Our Outback experience was coming to a close.

We got to Melbourne in the late afternoon, checked into the hotel and headed out for a walk, and to have dinner.

When we got to Melbourne and to the hotel downtown it was clear we were not in the outback any longer. Melbourne reminded me a bit of Chicago in scale and character. There were plenty of big public structures, elaborate transportation systems, near major water, odd public art, huge housing complexes vast pedestrian systems monumental older buildings, a river front, with a big old skyline.

We found our way to the river and figured we would be able to find a restaurant. There was a photographer there who was kind enough to shoot this “we were there” picture.

Clarice and Jon were going to meet us there later in the evening. While we were at dinner Clarice called to say that their flight had been delayed a bit because of rain. They ended getting to the Hotel about 11:00 or so. The next day we were going to take in the sites of the city.