Mabel and Wilf go mad in Melbourne

Everything we'd read said that Melbourne is the most European of the big cities over here, and they were right. There were lots of wide roads lined with trees, old characterful buildings and lots of Italian restaurants, as well as a skyline full of skyscrapers. I loved it!

We said goodbye to Mr & Mrs Oldest Cousin - they'd been fantastic hosts, and left us with a wealth of recommendations of things to see in the city. Then we started walking. We looked at the national gallery, complete with water wall and stained glass ceiling.

Then we spent hours walking around the streets, looking at shops, going down little arcades and lanes until we were so worn out that we collapsed in a heap for the evening!

The following day in the bright spring sunshine (but it was chilly in the shade) we set out for the Shrine of Remembrance - an imposing structure in the King's Domain. It managed to be both moving and informative - particularly as the emphasis was on Australian troops (as you'd expect) and so showed different battles and conflicts to those we're familiar with.

After tramping through the Botanical Gardens we came to Wilf's treat for the day. The MCG - or for the uninitiated out there, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As there was a match on (being watched by one man and his dingo) we could only go round the museum.

There was plenty to see - though we skipped the Aussie Rules section on the advice of one of the guides (he'd marked us out as poms straight away). Wilf was particularly interested in the cricket section which was full of memorabilia - though strangely quiet on the 2005 Ashes series! The cleverest bit was a talk being given by a hologram of Shane Warne - it really did look as if he was there. The little boys in front of us (and the old man next to me) thought it was really cool!

To make the most of our last night in Melbourne we went to a Chinese restaurant that had been recommended to us as being really authentic for food, if a little dodgy in the decor stakes. The food was excellent. But I had to use chopsticks. Can you imagine? But, I was amazed at my dexterity, the food ended up in my mouth rather than on the tablecloth or worse!