Melbourne - Buildings and Gardens
Chris went running and I enjoyed a nice hot shower and listened to Inklings while I got ready. I called Katie and it was good to hear about her cruise and first day working at the MTC.
The boys got working on homework and Chris sat with each of them to take a deep look at their classes and how they are doing. It hasn’t been the easiest working conditions since we’ve been traveling, hiking and adventuring non-stop. We anticipated coming back to the states with the boys behind in their courses and having to work a little more to get back on track - which is fine. They both need to do their coursework a little more thoroughly so that they are learning instead of just checking the boxes to get an A in the class – Seminary too. It is definitely a struggle. I feel like we should’ve done a better job checking in on what they are learning and accomplishing but there is so much navigating and planning and editing to do in our ‘free time’ that it's tricky to be balanced.
After quesadillas for lunch we headed out on a walk through the city — China Town, the University, and the City Library.
The City Library
The State Library Victoria was established in 1854. We learned it aimed to be "the people's university" and is Australia's oldest public library - also one of the first free public libraries in the world. The dome shape, hanging lights and balconies filled with books made it a really cool space.
Next was the Melbourne Market - a huge tent covered market with booths full of all kinds of things. We wandered for a while but quickly got tired. We took a trolley closer to home and stopped at the store to pick up some notebooks for the boys and then at the grocery store for a few more things to eat for Sunday dinner.
We listened to Two Towers for an hour and then Chris and I headed out to dinner while the boys stayed at home to eat, do homework and hang out. Nice to have a date night with Chris. After dinner we took a seat on the Parliament House steps — just a block from our little apartment — and talked as the sun went down.
Church
Sunday we went to church with the Melbourne Second Branch at 9:30am. It was downtown and we took the elevator to get to the floor with the church. I just love visiting different wards around the world.
Wandering through Melbourne
After lunch back at home we headed out in the city again finding painted walls, billboards and cool alleyways filled with graffiti. We just missed Taylor coming to Melbourne for her ERAS tour.
Shrine of Remembrance
Victoria's national memorial honoring the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping. We wandered up to the roof of the building for a fun look at the city.
Royal Botanical Gardens
I remember walking through the gardens while having a conversation which turned into an argument, with harsh voices, serious attitude and hard feelings. It was rough and took a long time to settle. Not every outing runs smoothly and sometimes forced family time is just hard. The boys really are troopers to wander with us through places that they sometimes don’t really care about. Overall they were good sports and up for anything - knowing that treats were usually involved. But normal life and tired teens happens everywhere in the world.
Walking through the Fitzroy Gardens
Chris and Matt are standing in front of the Cook Cottage - The cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, by the parents of Captain James Cook. The building was purchased, disassembled and brought to Melbourne in 1934 by an Australian philanthropist and reassembled brick by brick.
Model Tudor Village
The cutest minature tudor village in the middle of the Fitzroy Gardens - presented to the city of Melbourne by the citizens of Lambeth England in appreciation of gifts of food dispatched from Victoria to England during food shortages following world war 2.
We brought the boys church journals (given to them by Katie) on this trip and have used them for most Come Follow Me lessons/discussions. Today we brought them to the park, sat and talked about a few things in 2nd Nephi. We continued our discussion as we walked home. Love this picture of Luke stopping to write something in his notebook.
The Fairies Tree
Carved by Ola Cohn from 1931-1934 “A gift to the children of Melbourne” (Foreward from her book ‘The Fairies Tree’: “I have carved a tree in the Fitzroy Gardens for you and the fairies, but mostly for the fairies, and those who believe in them, for they will understand how necessary it is to have a fairy sanctuary - a place that is sacred and safe as a home should be to all living creatures. Therefore I dedicate this book to children and fairies, as it is to them I owe my inspiration.”
