2024 Viking World Journey

Our second day in Melbourne and today we explore the city. We caught the 109 bus to CBD (Central Business District) (thanks Terry and Beth for the tickets).
We explore the street art of Melbourne and catch a tram to Victoria Market. (Diana was looking for the Christmas Store so she could purchase a Nativity set.)Found it! This store was over the top. So much to see.
We locate a few more alleyways to see a little more street art and then ride the train back to CBD where we tour St Paul Cathedral.

St Paul Cathedral is the home church for Anglicans in Melbourne and throughout Victoria. It is a beautiful place of prayer and worship with a vibrant and diverse community of members from more than 25 nations.
St Paul’s Cathedral has been an integral part of Christian Melbourne since the city’s foundation: it stands on the site where the first public Christian services in Melbourne were led by Dr Alexander Thomson in 1836.From 1836 to 1848 the site on which the Cathedral stands served as a corn market for the growing city. In 1848, it was granted to the Anglican Church to build the bluestone St Paul’s Parish Church. Consecrated in 1852, St Paul’s Church was used until 1885 when it was demolished to make way for the liturgical West-end of the present Cathedral.

The Cathedral’s foundation stone was laid in 1880, and work continued for eleven years, leading to the consecration of St Paul’s Cathedral on 22 January 1891.The construction of the three spires did not begin until 1926, to a revised design of John Barr of Sydney rather than the original design of an octagonal central tower and gable west end towers of Butterfield. The central spire is the second highest in the Anglican Communion, after Salisbury Cathedral.

We take off again and visit the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.

The Royal Arcade was proudly the first arcade in Melbourne and is the longest-standing arcade in Australia. Its historical significance is profound and underpinned by the fact that, as a significant Victorian era building, it is part of the Victorian Heritage Register.
It a long alleyway full of shops and restaurants.
We picked up the 109 tram and returned to the ship.
We put on a little over 12,000 steps so with Myron’s knees, not a bad day.
Spent the rest of the afternoon by the main pool enjoying the views of Melbourne.
We have thunderstorms moving in so we are glad we are on the ship.
Dinner tonight in the Restaurant with Paul and Lisa who live on our street as we call it. Also new folks Bob and Patti.Lue lisää