The weather was beautiful today! A bright sunny sky and 70 degrees was enough to lure me out of the hotel and onto the streets. Last night during my penguin hunt I noticed what looked like a lit up Ferris Wheel in the distance. It appeared to be on the beach and a few miles down the road, but then again it was very dark outside and the only thing I saw were lights in the distance. I decided to go find the source of the mysterious lights.
Tram #16 and #3a both head in the direction that I needed to travel. For the life of me I can’t figure out the difference between the two trams. Something must set them apart. Being the expert tram rider that I am, my plan of action is always the same. I jump on the first tram that arrives! The lucky winner today was #16, but it was packed with people. There is something weird about stepping onto a packed tram. The doors slide open and the first thing I do is quickly survey the car to determine the number of people. Step two involves locating a place to park my rear end. At the same time, opening doors serve as a signal to all of the other passengers to stop whatever it is they are doing and stare. Its just an awkward feeling all around, but I managed my way through the crowd of staring onlookers and found myself a perch to call home.
Fifteen minutes into my tram ride we pulled up to the St. Kindle Beach pier. I thought I heard a penguin call my name, but I was determined to stay onboard the tram headed into uncharted territory. What an adventurer I have become. LOL! The tram closed its doors and continued down the tracks. By now my palms were sweaty and I was getting worried. What have I just gotten myself into? At this point the tram had already travelled four stops past my furthest point on record. Maybe I was pushing this a bit too far. You know, baby steps. I pulled the chord signaling the driver to stop at the next stop.
Disembarking the tram is pretty much the same feeling as boarding the tram. Conversations stop, people stop what they are doing, and babies stop crying just to watch me disembark. Not really, but I am a dramatic guy according to that blonde I know, so… Okay, back to my spine tingling adventure. I jumped off the tram a few stops beyond the pier and paused for a moment to collect myself before determining which direction I would travel. That whole process by itself was kind of stupid because I really only had two logical choices. I could either continue straight ahead in the same direction of the tram that I just departed, or I could turn to the left and travel in that direction. Why only those two choices? Well, if I travelled to my right I would end up swimming in Melbourne Bay within a minute or two. If went the opposite direction of the tram it would make me a likely candidate for psychiatric evaluation since I would be back tracking towards home. It was a pressing moment and a decision needed to be made quickly because I was just standing there looking like a moron. At that moment a little kid walked by and said to his father, “Daddy, what is wrong with that guy?” Not really, but it makes for a good line in my story. :)
I decided to press forward in the same direction as the tram that I just departed. Let me say that again… I decided to head in the same direction that the tram I just departed was going. Do you get the irony? Really??? Sometimes I amaze myself with my own brilliance. As it turns out, it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Hoofing it the rest of the way allowed me to fully take in my surroundings. Seriously, there was a lot going on. I spent so much time in my own head trying to figure out what direction to travel that I didn't even notice that there were vendors set up along the entire sidewalk peddling their wares. LOL… “Peddling their wares.”
The sidewalk vendors were pretty cool. Nothing they were selling appealed to me, but it was fun to browse and pretend that I was a prospective buyer. Mean and cruel, right? I know… Its taken years of practice to become this good. Hehehehhe The last vendor was coming into sight when suddenly I saw a huge open mouth in the distance. Seriously, I am not joking this time! It was a gaping “mouth” and closing in on me quickly. There is no need to worry though. The “mouth” was part of a mural that served as the entrance to an amusement park. You see, I wasn't going crazy! I did see a Ferris wheel last night! (It was actually a roller coaster and not a FW) Move over James Cook, Matt is in town and I’m a fearless explorer. Did I stop at the amusement park? No way! I pressed forward and uncovered a new neighborhood. Given the mobs of people everywhere, the neighborhood was clearly only new to me. I stumbled upon St. Kilda, but I claimed it as mine and renamed it St. Matthew.
St. Kilda is a bustling little neighborhood, and like many of the other areas that I conquered in the past, its streets are dotted with shops and restaurants. The primary difference is that St. Kilda is in close proximity to the bay, so it is kind of on the water-kinda. I explored each and every little nook and cranny of the main boulevard. Eventually I settled into a small cafe and ordered lunch. After lunch I paused long enough to rename the neighborhood in my honor, and then I boarded the tram headed for home. Another successful adventure behind me
Here are a few pics…
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