/karen/

Two: Wednesday 13/07/2005

Sunday, 24 July, 2005

We wake at about 8:30, pack and check out and go for breakfast at McDonald's. Their berry crunch yoghurt wouldn't be too bad except for the particularly vile strawberries at the bottom. We take another walk along the river, past all the boats.

Obligatory Ben and Karen shot by the river:

Here is one of the lovely black swans we greeted:

We crossed the bridge to the beach and were confronted with the ocean. I could see why this place is a popular holiday destination in the summer.

But we could not tarry—Melbourne awaited us and it was still another 5 hours' drive away. I was anxious to get to University College before the office closed (not that it mattered; it would just be nice). We hopped in the car again—me taking the first shift—and enjoyed Jeff Buckley, Elixir, The Wrights, The Flaming Lips (who I have decided I do not like) and a host of other things as we zoomed down the M1, doing 100 kph and overtaking large trucks and slowpokes who insist on doing 98 kph (yes, I know I'm an impatient driver). I find the constant road signs telling me to take power naps amusing.

We stopped in Yarragon for lunch (tuna and corn thins) and then hit the major freeway going into Melbourne. Does anyone know if NSW green P-platers (who can only do a maximum of 100 kph in NSW) are allowed to drive at the maximum speed in Victoria where even red P-platers can go at 110?

We finally reach Melbourne and run up against the problem of the Citylink toll (and lack of tollbooths). “I think you'd better call that number,” says Ben, pointing to the sign. I call the number and the city of Melbourne deducts $10.70 from us for using the road. It seems grossly unfair but Anita points out later that that was for a day pass and they don't care if you're just using the road once that day.

I only have partial maps of north Melbourne and the University of Melbourne do not think it fitting to put University College on their campus map. So we drive in circles for a while—up Swanson St, around College Crescent, counting the colleges as we go by. There's some beautiful architecture there, like Queen's College,

Trinity College,

and Janet Clarke hall.

About the third time around, we are getting puzzled as to why we cannot find the college amongst the plethora of other colleges on the crescent. But really it's all my fault—University College is on the other side of the road and we'd been missing it all this time.

The staff are very nice about my stupidity. They show me around (we have access to the Senior Common Room! Why??) and give us the keys to our apartment. I didn't take pictures of it but it looks like this. Very nice place to stay and all meals are included in the cost, whether you eat them or not. They can even give you a packed lunch to take away with you, as long as you order it the night before.

We unpack and settle in, then I call Anita and arrange to do dessert. We have dinner in the main dining hall. It is standard college food that makes me reminisce about National Training Event. Anita meets us at 7:15 outside the college with her car. We drive to Lygon St. This strikes me as being a bit odd—couldn't we have just walked there?—but Melbourne streets are wider than Sydney streets and a block is really the length of two blocks so it makes sense to drive everywhere.

We walk down Lygon St, stopping to buy sweets at The Original Lolly Store (I find a gelatinous Spongebob Squarepants and decision-making dice which I think will be useful for whenever I go out with friends. Ben buys fudge), and then Anita gives us the choice between chocolate and gelato. We choose chocolate and she takes us to Koko Black.

I think of Homer Simpson (“Mmm ... chocolate ...”).

And if you thought the exterior was nice ...

One piece of chocolate costs $1.40 but apparently it's worth it. We ask for a table and are shepherded upstairs to a very cosy set of rooms with mood lighting, pictures of cocoa beans on the walls and lots of comfortabel armchairs. A waiter runs through the dessert menu with us. It sounds tempting but desserts are around $12 each. Ben and I decide to share a Belgian Special with two hot chocolates.

It is the best hot chocolate I have ever had. It is sweet and creamy all the way to the bottom. Bliss!

Anita tells us there is a connection between St. Jude's Carlton and this particular branch of Koko Black. I forget the exact details but it seems to me particularly wonderful that St. Jude's would be able to make use of this beautiful place to hold meetings and share the gospel with people.

We are home just in time for Law and Order: SVU. I keep at the hearts-shaped bookmark and then sleep.

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