Great reporting Andi as usual. Cannot believe how expensive the zoo entry and the ferries are now. The days of value down under have been erodng over the last 10 years. I can remember coming down here and everything was so reasonable.

New Zealand has been becoming more expensive with each trip too. I often wonder how the locals make it they are paying higher prices and in the past their salaries were less than USA salaries as well.

USA is the land of plenty. Little things like refills on soft drinks, all the ketchup you want issues like this in restaurants even make a difference. In New Zealand as long as I can remember each "tiny" package of ketchup cost and I remember Ken's surprise when he took a handfull and I told him what he was paying for each package.

The first day in Melbourne was very overcast and basically drizzled all afternoon finally clearing up later in the evening.

We did a tour yesterday out via some local suburbs to a forested mountain area. Some great overview spots of Melbourne and the harbor below and a visit to a tiny village with some unique shops. Last stop we saw some native lcoal birds who do like to land on your head. Cockatoos and small colorful parrots and a kookaburra in a tree were great to see. This was in a picnic stop area and I am sure the birds are used to getting "snacks" along with the human visitors. If you want birds all over you get a little bird feed in your hand and your wish will come true. Just as we were about to leave it started to rain. Don and Carolyn were on the same tour so we enjoyed having them along. We were really hungry by the time we got back and I ate too much.

We had the pleasure of Fred and Pat's company for dinner last night. Regent had a special aquarium event and we have been to the Melbourne aquarium and Fred and Pat were not that interested so we stayed on board and we were able to get into Prime 7. I again ate too much it was an alka seltzer before bed last night. Dover sole, crab cakes, crab legs I looked like a fish as I left the restaurant. All was excellent.

Today it is bright and sunny. We slept in today and are going to wander into Melbourne shortly and just enjoy the day.